heliostat
noun
he·lio·stat ˈhē-lē-ə-ˌstat 
: an instrument consisting of a mirror mounted on an axis moved by clockwork by which a sunbeam is steadily reflected in one direction
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web Placing three heliostats, spaced every 120 degrees along a crater rim would ensure steady illumination to the mine, and two more would beam light at the vapor capture tent and fuel processing plant, according to Sowers. 
Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020 But those peak around 1,000 degrees, because each heliostat has to be individually calibrated and can fall out of alignment over time. Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 The researchers found that for a solar plant with a central tower, the efficiency of the heliostats closest to the tower was higher. Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019 The plant, operated by Torresol Energy, consists of 2,650 heliostats — mirrors that turn to track the motion of the sun, fanning out around, and reflecting sunlight toward, a 150-meter (490-foot)-high tower. Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019 Molten Salt Thermal Storage Molten salt can retain heat for a long time, so it's generally found in solar thermal plants, where dozens or hundreds of heliostats (large mirrors) use the heat from sunlight to create energy. Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 28 Oct. 2017 The facility consists of an array of heliostats—or panels that reflect sunlight onto a thermal tower—and a molten salt tank. Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2017 The observatory connects to a heliostat mounted outside, which tracks the sun and reflects light at the telescopes. Nicholas St. Fleur, The Seattle Times, 14 July 2017 Gary Poliquin of Lake Zurich was another astronomical society member who set up a simple heliostat, which bounced the image through a lens and then onto a large screen about 40 feet away. Frank S. Abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, 21 Aug. 2017 See More
Joe Pappalardo, Popular Mechanics, 27 Apr. 2020 But those peak around 1,000 degrees, because each heliostat has to be individually calibrated and can fall out of alignment over time. Laura Mallonee, Wired, 21 Jan. 2020 The researchers found that for a solar plant with a central tower, the efficiency of the heliostats closest to the tower was higher. Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019 The plant, operated by Torresol Energy, consists of 2,650 heliostats — mirrors that turn to track the motion of the sun, fanning out around, and reflecting sunlight toward, a 150-meter (490-foot)-high tower. Shweta Narayan, Smithsonian, 31 Aug. 2019 Molten Salt Thermal Storage Molten salt can retain heat for a long time, so it's generally found in solar thermal plants, where dozens or hundreds of heliostats (large mirrors) use the heat from sunlight to create energy. Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 28 Oct. 2017 The facility consists of an array of heliostats—or panels that reflect sunlight onto a thermal tower—and a molten salt tank. Megan Geuss, Ars Technica, 13 Oct. 2017 The observatory connects to a heliostat mounted outside, which tracks the sun and reflects light at the telescopes. Nicholas St. Fleur, The Seattle Times, 14 July 2017 Gary Poliquin of Lake Zurich was another astronomical society member who set up a simple heliostat, which bounced the image through a lens and then onto a large screen about 40 feet away. Frank S. Abderholden, Lake County News-Sun, 21 Aug. 2017 See More Word History
Etymology
New Latin heliostata, from heli- entry 1 + Greek -statēs -stat
First Known Use
1747, in the meaning defined above
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