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Glite Dictionary
orrery

orrery

1 9.9
A machine that shows how the planets and their moons move around the Sun
  • noun
  • /ˈɔːrəri/
  • Specialized
translation icon : orrery
  • The Sky: adjustable planisphere for any location, plus variable scale orrery; has many features: comes at several levels with different numbers of objects.
  • orrery shows all planets
  • orrery shows

Examples

  • The orrery displayed the planets' movements, demonstrating how they revolve around the sun.

  • Planetarium on Computer: a set of very simple programs that calculate weight and age on other planets, plus an orrery; includes lesson plans.

    Academic text (1991)

  • Orrery: solar system display to variable scale including up to all 9 planets

    Academic text (1991)

  • The 3-D model of the orrery was created from an illustration by James Ferguson published in 1779.

    Academic text (2009)

  • The orrery projector, showing the Sun and orbiting planets in motion on the dome, can be used to demonstrate sidereal and synodic periods of the planets.

    Academic text (1993)

  • In the museum, visitors marveled at the intricately designed orrery that accurately represented our solar system.

  • The scientist used an orrery to explain the complex motions of the planets to his students.

Synonyms

armillary sphere
vsorrery
  • Specialized
9.9

A model of the sky made of rings that shows how stars and planets move

models planets and moons with rotating spheres to show their positions

Surface Forms

orrery singular
orreries plural

Etymology

Orrery gets its name from the title Earl of Orrery because a working model of the solar system was made for that earl and people began to call the machine by his name. So an orrery is a mechanical model that shows the planets moving around the Sun.