An Etymological Dictionary of Astronomy and Astrophysics

The effect of the Earth’s rotation on the position of the image formed on the → focal plane of a telescope during long exposures. In the case of → equatorial mounting, the image remains fixed, whereas it turns continuously with an → altazimuth mounting. In the latter case the image motion must be compensated by an appropriate mechanism, → field rotator.

See also: → field; → rotation.