orrery

views updated May 17 2018

or·rer·y / ˈôrərē/ • n. (pl. -rer·ies) a mechanical model of the solar system, or of just the sun, earth, and moon, used to represent their relative positions and motions.

orrery

views updated May 21 2018

orrery a clockwork model of the solar system, or of just the sun, earth, and moon. It is named after Charles Boyle (1676–1731), fourth Earl of Orrery, for whom a copy of the machine invented by George Graham c.1700 was made by the instrument-maker John Rowley.

orrery

views updated May 21 2018

orrery mechanism for representing the motions of the planets. XVIII. Named after Charles Boyle, Earl of Orrery, for whom a copy of the machine invented by George Graham c.1700 was made.

More From encyclopedia.com