heliometer

American  

[hee-lee-om-i-ter] / ˌhi liˈɒm ɪ tər /

noun

1. a telescope with a divided, adjustable objective, formerly used to measure small angular distances, as those between celestial bodies.

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heliometer British  

/ ˌhiːlɪˈɒmɪtə /

noun

1. a refracting telescope having a split objective lens that is used to determine very small angular distances between celestial bodies

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Other Word Forms

• heliometry
  noun
• heliometric
  adjective
• heliometrical
  adjective
• heliometrically
  adverb

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Etymology

Origin of heliometer

First recorded in 1745–55; helio- + -meter

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

heliometer

This lens is divided and mounted like a heliometer object-glass; the separation of the lenses produces the required double image, and is measured by a screw.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

There are three methods in which this heliometer can be used.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 13, Slice 2 "Hearing" to "Helmond" by Various

The center of this hall is occupied by a massive pier of stone, 10 feet square, passing from the basement into the dome above, and intended for the support of the great heliometer.

From The Uses of Astronomy An Oration Delivered at Albany on the 28th of July, 1856 by Edward Everett

He also invented a heliometer, afterwards perfected by Fraunhofer.

From Encyclopaedia Britannica, 11th Edition, Volume 4, Slice 3 "Borgia, Lucrezia" to "Bradford, John" by Various

In 1877 Sir David Gill used Lord Crawford’s heliometer at the Island of Ascension to measure the parallax of Mars in opposition, and found the sun’s distance 93,080,000 miles.

From History of Astronomy by George Forbes

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