artificial horizon

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noun

a level, as a surface of mercury, used in determining the altitudes of stars.

the bubble in a sextant or octant for aerial use.

Also called flight indicator, gyro horizon. Aeronautics an instrument that indicates the banking and pitch of an aircraft with respect to the horizon.

Origin of artificial horizon

First recorded in 1795–1805

Dictionary.com Unabridged Based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2019

British Dictionary definitions for artificial horizon

artificial horizon

noun

Also called: gyro horizon an aircraft instrument, using a gyroscope, that indicates the aircraft's attitude in relation to the horizontal

astronomy a level reflecting surface, such as one of mercury, that measures the altitude of a celestial body as half the angle between the body and its reflection

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