Definition of altazimuth in English:
altazimuth
noun alˈtazɪməθælˈtæzəməθ
1Astronomy
A telescope mounting that moves in azimuth (about a vertical axis) and in altitude (about a horizontal axis).
Compare with equatorial mount
Example sentencesExamples
- Even with this disadvantage, the altazimuth mounting will be the primary mounting for very large telescopes to be constructed in the future.
- However, in recent years computerized altazimuth mounts have appeared which use motors to automatically compensate for the sky's motion, though these are generally a great deal more expensive.
- Scopes with altazimuth mounts are easy to set up and use, and require no special expertise to use properly.
- While the altitude axis of an altazimuth mount may bend, the bending is constant and can be compensated by realignment of the tube or optics.
- The Dobsonian design is the most popular type of altazimuth mounting used on astronomical telescopes.
- 1.1 A telescope on an altazimuth mounting.
Example sentencesExamples
- A lot of my variables are near bright stars or distinctive star patterns; thus easy to find with my noncomputerized altazimuth telescope or binoculars.
- All are fully-steerable altazimuth telescopes capable of pointing and tracking over zenith angles from 1 to 60 degrees.
- Another highly entertaining presentation was by Dennis di Cicco of Sky and Telescope magazine as he described his construction of a 16-inch ‘sidewalk’ altazimuth telescope.
- Of course, everything below about 80 degrees altitude was very easy to find; all altazimuth telescopes have this quirk.
- Since altazimuth telescope mounts usually have a limit in their ability to track high elevation passes through culmination, especially at near-zenith transits because of the large azimuth swings required, the mount can start falling behind.
2A surveying instrument for measuring vertical and horizontal angles, resembling a theodolite but larger and more precise.
Example sentencesExamples
- This is an altazimuth theodolite of an improved pattern now used on the Ordnance Survey.
Origin
Mid 19th century: blend of altitude and azimuth.
Definition of altazimuth in US English:
altazimuth
nounalˈtazəməTHælˈtæzəməθ
1Astronomy
A telescope mounting that moves in azimuth (about a vertical axis) and in altitude (about a horizontal axis).
Compare with equatorial mount
Example sentencesExamples
- The Dobsonian design is the most popular type of altazimuth mounting used on astronomical telescopes.
- Scopes with altazimuth mounts are easy to set up and use, and require no special expertise to use properly.
- While the altitude axis of an altazimuth mount may bend, the bending is constant and can be compensated by realignment of the tube or optics.
- However, in recent years computerized altazimuth mounts have appeared which use motors to automatically compensate for the sky's motion, though these are generally a great deal more expensive.
- Even with this disadvantage, the altazimuth mounting will be the primary mounting for very large telescopes to be constructed in the future.
- 1.1 A telescope on an altazimuth mounting.
Example sentencesExamples
- A lot of my variables are near bright stars or distinctive star patterns; thus easy to find with my noncomputerized altazimuth telescope or binoculars.
- All are fully-steerable altazimuth telescopes capable of pointing and tracking over zenith angles from 1 to 60 degrees.
- Another highly entertaining presentation was by Dennis di Cicco of Sky and Telescope magazine as he described his construction of a 16-inch ‘sidewalk’ altazimuth telescope.
- Since altazimuth telescope mounts usually have a limit in their ability to track high elevation passes through culmination, especially at near-zenith transits because of the large azimuth swings required, the mount can start falling behind.
- Of course, everything below about 80 degrees altitude was very easy to find; all altazimuth telescopes have this quirk.
2A surveying instrument for measuring vertical and horizontal angles, resembling a theodolite but larger and more precise.
Example sentencesExamples
- This is an altazimuth theodolite of an improved pattern now used on the Ordnance Survey.
Origin
Mid 19th century: blend of altitude and azimuth.