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“astrolabe”
astrolabe
An instrument for measuring the altitude of the sun and stars, widely used by astronomers until replaced by the sextant.
Invented by the ancient Greeks and improved by the Arabs, it was an important navigation aid for explorers; such as, Columbus.
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astro-, astr-
(page 3)
Word Entries at Get Words:
“astrolabe”
astrolabe
1. A type of star map developed by the ancient Greeks consisting of a horizon circle graduated in degrees, or azimuths, from the north point, and star altitude circles.
There is also a sighting bar to measure the altitudes of stars and other celestial bodies.
2. An ancient navigational instrument, forerunner of the sextant.Astrolabes usually consisted of a flat disk with a sighting rod that could be pivoted to point at the sun or bright stars.
From the altitude of the sun or star above the horizon, the local time could be estimated.
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Astronomy and related astronomical terms
(page 3)
astrolabe
A small instrument, used during ancient and medieval times, for calculating the positions of bodies in the heavens.
This entry is located in the following unit:
Science and Technology Words from the Ancient Past to the Present, Part 1
(page 1)