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Webster 1913 Edition

Almucantar

Alˊmu-can′tar

,
Noun.
[F.
almucantarat
,
almicantarat
, ultimately fr. Ar.
al-muqantarāt
, pl., fr.
qantara
to bend, arch.]
(Astron.)
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.

Webster 1828 Edition

Almucantar

AL'MUCANTAR

,
Noun.
A series of circles of the sphere passing through the center of the sun, or of a star, parallel to the horizon. It is synonymous with a parallel of altitude, whose common zenith is the vertical point.

Definition 2024

almucantar

almucantar

English

Noun

almucantar ‎(plural almucantars)

  1. (archaic) 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.

Derived terms

Translations

Etymology

From mediaeval Latin almucantarath or French almicantarat, from Arabic المقنطرات (al-muqanŧarāt) ‘circles of celestial latitude’, formed from the plural of قَنْطَرَة ‎(qanṭara, “arch”).

Pronunciation

  • IPA(key): /ælməˈkæntə/

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