artificial horizon

American  

[ahr-tuh-fish-uhl huh-rahy-zuhn] / ˈɑr tə fɪʃ əl həˈraɪ zən /

noun

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

2. the bubble in a sextant or octant for aerial use.

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

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artificial horizon British  

noun

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

2. 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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Etymology

Origin of artificial horizon

First recorded in 1795–1805

Example Sentences

Inspired by a child's spinning top toy, Serson wondered if he could create an artificial horizon - something that would stay level, even as a ship lurched and swayed around it.

From BBC • Apr. 16, 2019

The entire zone which defined the landscape of my life was now bounded by a continuous artificial horizon, formed by the raised parapets and embankments of the motorways and their access roads and interchanges.

From The Guardian • Jul. 4, 2014

Each light bar is long enough to serve as an artificial horizon, telling the pilot if his plane is on even keel.

From Time Magazine Archive

All the dials and gauges of a real airplane cockpit are displayed on the bottom half of the screen, including altimeter, artificial horizon, airspeed indicator and two compasses.

From Time Magazine Archive

He had, besides, his chronometer, sextant, artificial horizon, and thermometers carried in cases, as also medicines, and the necessary clothing and other articles for himself.

From Great African Travellers From Mungo Park to Livingstone and Stanley by Kingston, William Henry Giles