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planisphere
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planisphere

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Also known as planar sky sphere, planar sky map, planar sky chart

thumb|right|upright=1.3|Philips' Planisphere, ca. 1900

Wikidata facts

Subclass of
star chart
Image
Cantino planisphere (1502).jpg
Show 2 more facts
Commons category
Planispheres
opposite of
armillary sphere
Sources (1)

via Wikidata · CC0

~8 min read

Encyclopedic overview

8 sections
Contents
  • Description
  • History
  • The star chart
  • The upper disc
  • Coordinates
  • See also
  • References
  • External links

thumb|right|upright=1.3|Philips' Planisphere, ca. 1900

In astronomy, 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 Hellenistic astronomy, is a predecessor of the modern planisphere. The term planisphere contrasts with armillary sphere, where the celestial sphere is represented by a three-dimensional framework of rings.

Excerpted from Wikipedia’s “planisphere” article, available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 licence.

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