planetariumn.
/ˌplanᵻˈtɛːrɪəm/, U.S. /ˌplænəˈtɛriəm/ 1. An orrery or similar mechanical model illustrating the movements of the planets around the sun. Now historical.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > representational device > [noun] > mechanical > orrery
heaven1600
orrery1713
planetarium1734
transitarium1761
tellurion1763
eidouraniona1800
1734 J. T. Desaguliers Course Exper. Philos. I. 430 A short Description of my Planetarium, an Instrument..to shew the Motion of the heavenly Bodies.
1774 J. Adams Diary 27 Aug. (1961) II. 112 Here we saw..an Orrery, or Planetarium, constructed by Mr. Writtenhouse of Philadelphia.
1805 H. K. White Remains I. 170 I have constructed a planetarium, or orrery, of a very simple kind.
1849 H. M. Noad Lect. Electr. (ed. 3) i. 35 A little arrangement usually called the electrical planetarium.
1890 Athenæum 12 Apr. 468/3 The very name of the planetarium of the astronomer is taken from the title of Lord Orrery.
1988 G. J. Whitrow Time in Hist.: Evol. Gen. Awareness 105 It was only incidentally a timepiece. Primarily it was a mechanical representation of the universe, a kind of planetarium.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > planet > [noun] > planetary system
planetary system1699
chorus1701
planetarium1835
1835 T. Chalmers Nat. Theol. I. ii. i. 219 It is passing marvellous that we should have more intense evidence for a God in the construction of an eye than in the construction of the mighty planetarium.
3. A graphical or structural representation of the planetary system.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > representational device > [noun] > representation of planets
planetarium1860
1860 J. G. Holland Miss Gilbert's Career i. 15 The mystery of the chalk planetarium was solved.
1901 Daily News 23 Feb. 6/3 Stonehenge has been variously..called a temple of the sun, and of serpent worship, a shrine of Buddha, a planetarium, a gigantic gallows on which defeated British leaders were solemnly hung in honour of Woden.
4. A device for projecting images of planets, constellations, etc., on to the interior of a darkened dome for public viewing; a building housing such a device. Also figurative.Usually with revolving projectors allowing the motions or apparent motions of stars, planets, etc., to be demonstrated.
ΘΚΠ
the world > the universe > cosmology > science of observation > astronomical instruments > representational device > [noun] > planetarium
planetarium1929
spacearium1962
1929 Encycl. Brit. XVII. 1000 Planetarium is the name given to an arrangement made by Zeiss of Jena, for producing an artificial sky. By optical methods images of the sun, moon, planets and stars are projected on a large hemispherical dome and by mechanical and electrical means the apparatus can be revolved so as to show the principal motions.
1936 Life 21 Dec. 39/1 All this month in the high-domed auditorium of the Hayden Planetarium in New York, the Star of Bethlehem is shining six times a day.
1950 Engineering 21 July 63/1 A planetarium..building will have..the dome representing the sky..diameter 60 feet. The simulation of the sun, moon, planets and stars..projected on the ‘sky’ will have great educational value.
1958 New Scientist 20 Mar. 6/3 Zeiss Planetaria have been operated in 32 cities.
1963 V. Nabokov Gift iii. 166 Now on the [chess] board there shone, like a constellation, a ravishing work of art, a planetarium of thought.
1973 C. Sagan Cosmic Connection viii. 60 Several million people visit planetariums in North America and Britain each year.
1992 Astron. Now Sept. 38/1 Several schools are finding it easier to bring the night sky to the pupils with the Starlab inflatable planetarium.
This entry has been updated (OED Third Edition, June 2006; most recently modified version published online March 2022).
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n.1734