meridian circle

American  

noun

Astronomy.

1. a transit instrument provided with a graduated vertical scale, used to measure the declinations of heavenly bodies and to determine the time of meridian transits.

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meridian circle British  

noun

1. an instrument used in astronomy for determining the declination and right ascension of stars. It consists of a telescope attached to a graduated circle

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Etymology

Origin of meridian circle

First recorded in 1540–50

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Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meridian circle

The rim of the cavity represents a meridional circle, to which corresponds some meridian circle of the terrella, since the poles on both sides are within the circumference of the rim itself.

From On the magnet, magnetick bodies also, and on the great magnet the earth a new physiology, demonstrated by many arguments & experiments by William Gilbert

The exact points of contact thus ascertained were marked with faint dots, and the meridian circle thereby divided into 256 very nearly equal parts.

From Modern Machine-Shop Practice, Volumes I and II by Joshua Rose

Its eastern arm is an apartment 22 by 24 feet, in which the meridian circle is to be placed.

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

With his meridian circle he determined the places of the chosen objects.

From The Story of the Heavens by Sir Robert S. (Robert Stawell) Ball

Inside the latter is a meridian circle, at right angles to which is a graduated colure; then the equator, apparently a double ring, and the ecliptic; also two diametric bars.

From The Travels of Marco Polo — Volume 1 by Henry Yule

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