The Collaborative International Dictionary
Planisphere \Plan"i*sphere\, n. [Plani- + sphere: cf. F. planisph[`e]re. See Plain, and Sphere.] The representation of the circles of the sphere upon a plane; especially, a representation of the celestial sphere upon a plane with adjustable circles, or other appendages, for showing the position of the heavens, the time of rising and setting of stars, etc., for any given date or hour.
Douglas Harper's Etymology Dictionary
Wiktionary
n. 1 Any representation of part of a sphere on a plane surface 2 (context astronomy English) Any of several charts of the celestial sphere having an overlay or window that may be adjusted to show the stars visible at a particular time, or from a particular place
Wikipedia
A planisphere is a star chart analog computing instrument in the form of two adjustable disks that rotate on a common pivot. It can be adjusted to display the visible stars for any time and date. It is an instrument to assist in learning how to recognize stars and constellations. The astrolabe, an instrument that has its origins in the Hellenistic civilization, is a predecessor of the modern planisphere.
Planisphere is a 2009 poetry collection by the American writer John Ashbery. It consists of 99 alphabetically sequenced poems.
Usage examples of "planisphere".
In an apartment of the great temple of Denderah, some fifty years ago, there was discovered upon the granite ceiling a sculptured and painted planisphere, abounding in centaurs, griffins, and dolphins, similar to the grotesque figures on the celestial globe of the moderns.
Then my eyes fell upon the vast planisphere spread upon the table, and I placed my finger on the very spot where the given latitude and longitude crossed.
At this point indicated on the planisphere one of these currents was rolling, the Kuro-Scivo of the Japanese, the Black River, which, leaving the Gulf of Bengal, where it is warmed by the perpendicular rays of a tropical sun, crosses the Straits of Malacca along the coast of Asia, turns into the North Pacific to the Aleutian Islands, carrying with it trunks of camphor-trees and other indigenous productions, and edging the waves of the ocean with the pure indigo of its warm water.
The point shown each day on the planisphere, and, marked by the lieutenant, showed me the exact direction of the Nautilus.
A photograph copy of this planisphere, of the size of the original, and the finest existing, having been made by Signor Naya, of Venice, under the express supervision of my friend, Mr.
Harrisse this planisphere, or at least its American portion, dates from after 1536.
Besides a calendar and some instructions on navigation there are several charts executed with exactness and elegance, especially a planisphere, which ends the collection.
In summer I sometimes come outside at night with my torch and my planisphere, which is two circles of plastic with a pin through the middle.
The modulations of the noises of wind and water, the infinite gradations and complexes of sound to be heard on the planisphere, seemed to ask him to include them, to become conscious of them and reproduce them.
Typhon, his hands and feet horrid with serpents, and whose habitat in the Egyptian planisphere was under Scorpio, confined him in a chest and flung him into the Nile, under the 17th degree of Scorpio.
Lusitano-French planispheres, which is represented by several specimens, all of which are copies from a prototype which has either been destroyed or has not yet been found.
It was difficult to avoid falling into the error, however, for on the English planispheres on the DUNCAN, the little isle was marked Maria Theresa.
Among the pupils who turned up in large numbers was a young woman, a Mademoiselle Pigeon, the daughter of the very clever mathematician who designed the two very fine planispheres which were transferred from the Jardin du Roi to the galleries of the Academy of Sciences.
Harrisse this planisphere, or at least its American portion, dates from after 1536.
John Mangles, after a minute investigation of the documents and the planisphere.