ALMUCANTAR

Etymology

Noun

almucantar (plural almucantars)

(astronomy, archaic or historical) A small circle on the celestial sphere, parallel to the horizon, that is used in astronomy and navigation to show altitude of a star or any other heavenly body.

(astronomy, archaic or historical) An instrument for observing the heavenly bodies as they cross such a circle.

Source: Wiktionary


Al`mu*can"tar, n. Etym: [F. almucantarat, almicantarat, ultimately fr. Ar. al-muqantarat, pl., fr. qantara to bend, arch.] (Astron.)

Definition: A small circle of the sphere parallel to the horizon; a circle or parallel of altitude. Two stars which have the same almucantar have the same altitude. See Almacantar. [Archaic] Almucanter staff, an ancient instrument, having an arc of fifteen degrees, formerly used at sea to take observations of the sun's amplitude at the time of its rising or setting, to find the variation of the compass.

Source: Webster’s Unabridged Dictionary 1913 Edition



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