planisphere

noun

pla·​ni·​sphere ˈplā-nə-ˌsfir 

: a representation of the circles of the sphere on a plane

especially : a polar projection of the celestial sphere and the stars on a plane with adjustable circles or other appendages for showing celestial phenomena for any given time

planispheric

ˌplā-nə-ˈsfir-ik  -ˈsfer- 

adjective

Examples of planisphere in a Sentence

Recent Examples on the Web

An Airbnb logo displayed on a smartphone and a planisphere world map displayed on a personal computer are seen in L’Aquila, Italy, on september 9th, 2023. —Jeff Marks, CNBC, 14 Feb. 2025

Monthly sky maps take the place of a planisphere in this atlas, which covers both the northern and southern hemisphere. —Popular Science, 13 Sep. 2019

Kids can craft their own planispheres and play games about the night sky. —Sara Cagle, Los Angeles Times, 31 July 2019

Word History

Etymology

alteration of Middle English planisperie, from Medieval Latin planisphaerium, from Latin planum plane + sphaera sphere

First Known Use

14th century, in the meaning defined above

Rhymes for planisphere

• atmosphere
• biosphere
• centromere
• chemosphere
• chromosphere
• hemisphere
• hydrosphere
• lithosphere
• mesosphere
• microsphere
• miserere
• mountaineer