A zenith telescope is a type of telescope that is designed to point straight up at or near the zenith. They are used for precision measurement of star positions, to simplify telescope construction, or both.
This modern liquid-mirror telescope aims upward
A classic zenith telescope, also known as a zenith sector employs a strong altazimuth mount, fitted with levelling screws. Extremely sensitive levels are attached and the telescope has an eyepiece fitted with a micrometer.[1] They are used for the measurement of small differences of zenith distance, and used in the determination of astronomic latitude.
Other types of zenith telescopes include the Monument to the Great Fire of London, which includes a central shaft meant for use as a zenith telescope. High-precision (and fixed building) zenith telescopes were also used until the early 1980s to track Earth's north pole position e.g. Earth's rotation axis position (polar motion). Since then radio astronomicalquasar measurements (VLBI) have also measured Earth's rotation axis several orders of magnitude more accurately than optical tracking.
The NASA Orbital Debris Observatory, which used a 3 m diameter aperture liquid mirror, and the Large Zenith Telescope, which uses a 6 m diameter aperture liquid mirror,[2] are both zenith telescopes, as the use of liquid mirror meant that these telescopes could only point straight up.
^Chisholm, Hugh, ed. (1911). "Geodesy" . Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 11 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 607–615.
^Cabanac, Rémi A.; Borra, Ermanno F.; Beauchemin, Mario (1998). "A Search for Peculiar Objects with the NASA Orbital Debris Observatory 3 Meter Liquid Mirror Telescope". The Astrophysical Journal. 509 (1): 309. arXiv:astro-ph/9804267. Bibcode:1998ApJ...509..309C. doi:10.1086/306488. S2CID 119434586.{{cite journal}}: CS1 maint: uses authors parameter (link)
zenith, telescope, zenith, telescope, type, telescope, that, designed, point, straight, near, zenith, they, used, precision, measurement, star, positions, simplify, telescope, construction, both, this, modern, liquid, mirror, telescope, aims, upward, classic, . A zenith telescope is a type of telescope that is designed to point straight up at or near the zenith They are used for precision measurement of star positions to simplify telescope construction or both This modern liquid mirror telescope aims upward A classic zenith telescope also known as a zenith sector employs a strong altazimuth mount fitted with levelling screws Extremely sensitive levels are attached and the telescope has an eyepiece fitted with a micrometer 1 They are used for the measurement of small differences of zenith distance and used in the determination of astronomic latitude Other types of zenith telescopes include the Monument to the Great Fire of London which includes a central shaft meant for use as a zenith telescope High precision and fixed building zenith telescopes were also used until the early 1980s to track Earth s north pole position e g Earth s rotation axis position polar motion Since then radio astronomical quasar measurements VLBI have also measured Earth s rotation axis several orders of magnitude more accurately than optical tracking The NASA Orbital Debris Observatory which used a 3 m diameter aperture liquid mirror and the Large Zenith Telescope which uses a 6 m diameter aperture liquid mirror 2 are both zenith telescopes as the use of liquid mirror meant that these telescopes could only point straight up Zenith Telescope Astronomical transit and zenith telescope 1898 Ramsden s zenith telescope See also EditList of astronomical instruments List of telescope types Zenith cameraReferences Edit Chisholm Hugh ed 1911 Geodesy Encyclopaedia Britannica Vol 11 11th ed Cambridge University Press pp 607 615 Cabanac Remi A Borra Ermanno F Beauchemin Mario 1998 A Search for Peculiar Objects with the NASA Orbital Debris Observatory 3 Meter Liquid Mirror Telescope The Astrophysical Journal 509 1 309 arXiv astro ph 9804267 Bibcode 1998ApJ 509 309C doi 10 1086 306488 S2CID 119434586 a href Template Cite journal html title Template Cite journal cite journal a CS1 maint uses authors parameter link External links EditZenith Sector by John BirdPortals Astronomy Stars Spaceflight Outer space Solar System Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Zenith telescope amp oldid 1107513580, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
