armillary sphere
noun
ar·mil·la·ry sphere ˈär-mə-ˌler-ē- 
är-ˈmi-lə-rē-
är-ˈmi-lə-rē- : an old astronomical instrument composed of rings showing the positions of important circles of the celestial sphere
Example Sentences
Recent Examples on the Web In its center is a golden sculpture of an armillary sphere, once used by astronomers in Renaissance Venice to study the celestial system. 
Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 Ng is a Chinese artifact aficionado, with pieces in the basement of an annex building that include an armillary sphere from the Ming Dynasty and two rare bone sculptures of which there are just four in the world. Faris Mokhtar, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2020 There are also lots of smaller instruments—thermometers, sextants, astrolabes—and plenty of globes, as well as an enormous armillary sphere, designed and built by the Italian astronomer Antonio Santucci. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 May 2020 One of America's oldest colleges has unveiled a replica of the even older Tycho Brahe armillary sphere. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 This new armillary sphere is thought to be the only working one on Earth today. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 Think of an armillary sphere like a circular slide rule with four separate axes. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 See More
Jennifer Kester, Forbes, 19 Mar. 2021 Ng is a Chinese artifact aficionado, with pieces in the basement of an annex building that include an armillary sphere from the Ming Dynasty and two rare bone sculptures of which there are just four in the world. Faris Mokhtar, Bloomberg.com, 23 June 2020 There are also lots of smaller instruments—thermometers, sextants, astrolabes—and plenty of globes, as well as an enormous armillary sphere, designed and built by the Italian astronomer Antonio Santucci. Jennifer Ouellette, Ars Technica, 17 May 2020 One of America's oldest colleges has unveiled a replica of the even older Tycho Brahe armillary sphere. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 This new armillary sphere is thought to be the only working one on Earth today. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 Think of an armillary sphere like a circular slide rule with four separate axes. Caroline Delbert, Popular Mechanics, 2 Jan. 2020 See More Word History
Etymology
partial translation of New Latin sphaera armillaris; armillary borrowed from New Latin armillāris, from Latin armilla "bracelet, armband, metal ring" (usually in plural armillae; Medieval Latin also "armillary sphere") (from armus "forequarter of an animal, shoulder" + -illa, feminine diminutive suffix) + -āris -ar — more at arm entry 1
First Known Use
1625, in the meaning defined above