planisphere

American  

[plan-uh-sfeer, pley-nuh-] / ˈplæn əˌsfɪər, ˈpleɪ nə- /

noun

1. a map of half or more of the celestial sphere with a device for indicating the part of a given location visible at a given time.

2. a projection or representation of the whole or a part of a sphere on a plane.

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planisphere British  

/ ˌplænɪˈsfɛrɪk, ˈplænɪˌsfɪə /

noun

1. a projection or representation of all or part of a sphere on a plane surface, such as a polar projection of the celestial sphere onto a chart

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Other Word Forms

• planispheral adjective
• planispheric adjective
• planispherical adjective

Etymology

Origin of planisphere

1350–1400; plani- + sphere; replacing Middle English planisperie < Medieval Latin plānisphaerium

Example Sentences

The Getty exhibits a planisphere clock, demonstrating mean time and solar time in cities around the globe, as well as the timing of the tides in northern ports.

From The Guardian • Jul. 29, 2011

In summer I sometimes come outside at night with my torch and my planisphere, which is two circles of plastic with a pin through the middle.

From "The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time" by Mark Haddon

It combines the planisphere and armillae of Hipparchus and others, and the theodolite of Theon, and was usually of brass, varying in diameter from a couple of inches to a foot or more.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 2, Slice 7 "Arundel, Thomas" to "Athens" by Various

A copy, or planisphere, of Behem's globe is given by Cladera in his investigations.

From The Life and Voyages of Christopher Columbus (Volume II) by Irving, Washington

Then we go down the street where there is a good electric light at the corner and we hold our planisphere up, almost straight overhead.

From Earth and Sky Every Child Should Know Easy studies of the earth and the stars for any time and place by Rogers, Julia Ellen