altazimuth

American  

[al-taz-uh-muhth] / ælˈtæz ə məθ /

noun

Astronomy.

1. an instrument for determining both the altitude and the azimuth of a heavenly body.

---

altazimuth British  

/ ælˈtæzɪməθ /

noun

1. an instrument for measuring the altitude and azimuth of a celestial body by the horizontal and vertical rotation of a telescope

---

Etymology

Origin of altazimuth

First recorded in 1855–60; alt(itude) + azimuth

Example Sentences

Cassini, moreover, set up an altazimuth in 1678, and employed from about 1682 a “parallactic machine,” provided with clockwork to enable it to follow the diurnal motion.

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

The instruments provided for the journey consisted of two barometers, two thermometers, two compasses, a sextant, two chronometers, an artificial horizon, and an altazimuth, to throw out the height of distant and inaccessible objects.

From Five Weeks in a Balloon by Verne, Jules

Besides a larger altazimuth that he erected in 1898, he has widened the field of operations at Greenwich by the extensive use of photography and the establishment of large equatoreals.

From History of Astronomy by Forbes, George

The altazimuth can thus determine the altitude and azimuth of objects, hence the name.

From The New Gresham Encyclopedia. Vol. 1 Part 1 A to Amide by Various

He himself, however, by much more exact observations, with an excellent altazimuth, reduced the alleged error from 20 minutes to only 4-1⁄2, or to 9⁄40ths of its formerly supposed value.

From Myths and Marvels of Astronomy by Proctor, Richard A. (Richard Anthony)