orrery Definition
a mechanical model of the solar system or other planetary system, consisting of a sun, planets, and other celestial bodies, and often driven by a clockwork mechanism.
Using orrery: Examples
Take a moment to familiarize yourself with how "orrery" can be used in various situations through the following examples!
Example
The orrery at the science museum is a popular attraction.
Example
He built an orrery to teach his children about the solar system.
Example
The intricate orrery was a marvel of engineering.
orrery Synonyms and Antonyms
Synonyms for orrery
- planetarium
- armillary sphere
- celestial globe
Phrases with orrery
an orrery that also shows the rotation of the Earth on its axis and the movement of the Moon around the Earth
Example
The tellurion was used to demonstrate the phases of the moon.
an orrery that uses a set of graduated rings representing the celestial equator, the ecliptic, and other important circles on the celestial sphere to show the positions of celestial bodies
Example
The armillary orrery was used to teach astronomy in ancient Greece.
an orrery that represents the solar system with the Earth at the center, as was believed in ancient times
Example
The geocentric orrery was used to teach the Ptolemaic model of the universe.
Origins of orrery
from the Earl of Orrery, for whom such a device was made in the 18th century
Summary: orrery in Brief
An 'orrery' [ˈɒrəri] is a mechanical model of the solar system or other planetary system, often driven by a clockwork mechanism. It is used to teach astronomy and is a popular attraction in science museums. The term extends to variations like 'tellurion,' which shows the rotation of the Earth and the movement of the Moon, and 'armillary orrery,' which uses graduated rings to represent celestial circles.
