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

Example Sentences

See Examples For:

meridian circle

But with the telescope of the meridian circle the watch-dial would be visible even at the distance of a mile.

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

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 Gilbert, William

The new one has mounted in it a meridian circle of the latest and best construction.

From The New England Magazine Volume 1, No. 6, June, 1886, Bay State Monthly Volume 4, No. 6, June, 1886 by Various

By an alliance between the astronomer and the mathematician it is possible to measure the discrepancies between the actual meridian circle and the instrument that is ideally perfect.

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

He ordered a great meridian circle, every part of which may be said to have been formed from his own designs.

From Great Astronomers by Ball, Robert S. (Robert Stawell), Sir