A zenith telescope is an instrument adapted for the measurement of small differences of zenith distance, and used in the determination of astronomic latitude. Zenith telescopes are often portable, however the Monument to the Great Fire of London is a notable example of a large, non-portable zenith telescope. The zenith is the point in the sky which appears directly above the observer. ... Latitude, sometimes denoted by the Greek letter φ, gives the location of a place on Earth north or south of the Equator. ... The Monument to the Great Fire of London, more commonly known as the Monument, is located in the City of London, near to the northern end of London Bridge close to where the Great Fire of London (1666) started. ...
Zenithtelescope (Geodesy), a telescope specially designed for determining the latitude by means of any two stars which pass the meridian about the same time, and at nearly equal distances from the zenith, but on opposite sides of it.
It turns both on a vertical and a horizontal axis, is provided with a graduated vertical semicircle, and a level for setting it to a given zenith distance, and with a micrometer for measuring the difference of the zenith distances of the two stars.
A man in bed or a cabbage in the pot is not considered as having a zenith, though from this view of the matter there was once a considerably dissent among the learned, some holding that the posture of the body was immaterial.
A zenithtelescope is an instrument adapted for the measurement of small differences of zenith distance, and used in the determination of astronomic latitude.
Zenithtelescopes are often portable; however the Monument to the Great Fire of London is a notable example of a large, non-portable zenithtelescope.
Another interesting modern variation of the theme is Large ZenithTelescope.
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