armillary sphere
Ringed sky model
An armillary sphere is a skeletal model of the celestial sphere, made of intersecting metal rings representing the equator, tropics, and other astronomical circles.
Used since antiquity for teaching and observation, it shows how celestial bodies appear to move around Earth.
Armillary spheres remain common as decorative objects: An ornate armillary sphere stood in the garden.
Of the sky above
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
- zodiacCelestial belt of signs
solstice · equinox · constellations · Ptolemy · Copernicus · Kepler · Tycho Brahe · observatory
Ancient altitude-measuring instrument
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- quadrantFourth of a circle
- orreryMechanical solar system model
- planisphereAdjustable celestial map disc
gnomon · sundial · telescope · theodolite · chronometer · globe · celestial globe · nocturnal
Circular bands worn
- bandsMusical performing groups
- nestedContained within another
- concentricSharing one center
- axisRotation reference line
poles · rotating · pivoting · tropics · Arctic · Antarctic · framework · armature
East-west angular distance
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- seafaringTraveling by ocean vessel
- marinersThose who work ships
- voyageJourney by sea
exploration · cartography · nautical · compass · charts · wayfinding · meridians · tropic
celestial
Of the sky above
- equatorMidpoint circle of rotation
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- meridianPole-to-pole great circle
zodiac · solstice · equinox · constellations · Ptolemy · Copernicus · Kepler · Tycho Brahe · observatory · planetarium
astrolabe
Ancient altitude-measuring instrument
- sextantMaritime angular measurement device
- quadrantFourth of a circle
- orreryMechanical solar system model
planisphere · gnomon · sundial · telescope · theodolite · chronometer · globe · celestial globe · nocturnal · transit
rings
Circular bands worn
- bandsMusical performing groups
- nestedContained within another
- concentricSharing one center
axis · poles · rotating · pivoting · tropics · Arctic · Antarctic · framework · armature · gimbal
longitude
East-west angular distance
- latitudeGeographic or personal freedom
- seafaringTraveling by ocean vessel
- marinersThose who work ships
voyage · exploration · cartography · nautical · compass · charts · wayfinding · meridians · tropic · celestial navigation
ornamental
For beauty, not function
- sculpturalRelating to carved forms
- gardenCultivated plant area
- finialDecorative top element
fountain · estate · library · study · pedestal · bronze · gilded · antique · curio · collectible
- globesterrestrial globe, desk globe, celestial globe, spinning globe, orb
- planetariumdome, projector, star show, constellations, planets
- antique instrumentsastrolabe, sextant, octant, quadrant, theodolite
- astronomy toolstelescope, binoculars, star chart, star map, planetarium
- Chinese astronomycelestial globe, star charts, star maps, gnomon, lunar calendar
- cosmic modelsorrery, planetarium, solar system model, geocentric model, heliocentric model
armillary sphereplanisphere
Adjustable celestial map disc
star chart · celestial map · sky map · star map · astrolabe
sphere, atmosphere, spherical, hemisphere, spheroid, biosphere, stratosphere, lithosphere, spherically