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ALMUCANTARS

Volume 1 · 75 words · 1797 Edition

in astronomy, an Arabic word denoting circles of the sphere passing through the centre of the sun, or a star, parallel to the horizon, being the same as PARALLELS OF ALTITUDE.

Almucantars-Sight, is an instrument usually made of pear-tree or box, having an arch of 15 degrees; used to take observations of the sun, about the time of its rising and setting; in order to find the amplitude, and consequently the variation of the compass.