{{Short description|Devices for observing, measuring or recording astronomical data}}
An '''astronomical instrument''' is a device for observing, measuring or recording astronomical data. They are used in the scientific field of astronomy, a natural science that studies celestial objects and the phenomena that occur in the cosmos, with the object of explaining their origin and evolution over time. Many are also used in navigation and surveying.
Astronomical instruments include:<ref>Descriptions here are taken automatically from the linked articles or from items on Wikidata.</ref><!-- Remove footnote if annotated links are no longer in use --> {{div col}} *{{annotated link|Alidade|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Armillary sphere|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Astrarium|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Astrolabe|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Astronomical clock|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Antikythera mechanism|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Blink comparator|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Bolometer|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Canterbury Astrolabe Quadrant|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Celatone|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Celestial sphere|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Charge-coupled device|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Computers|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|CMOS sensor|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Coronagraph|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Cosmolabe|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Dioptra|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Equatorial ring|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Equatorium|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Gnomon|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Inclinometer|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Interferometer|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Kamal (navigation)|Kamal|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Meridian circle|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Microchannel plate detector|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Mural instrument|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Nebra sky disk|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Nocturnal (instrument)|Nocturnal|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Octant (instrument)|Octant|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Optical spectrometer|aka=Spectrograph|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Orrery|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Photographic plate|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Photometer|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Planisphere|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Prague astronomical clock|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Quadrant (instrument)|Quadrant|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Reticle|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Retroreflector|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Scaphe|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Sextant (astronomical)|Sextant|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Starshade|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Space telescope|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Spectrometers|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Sundial|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Transit instrument|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Telescope|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Torquetum|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Triquetrum (astronomy)|Triquetrum|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Volvelle|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} *{{annotated link|Zenith telescope|dash=:|desc_first_letter_case=lower}} {{div col end}}
==See also== *Astronomy *Outline of astronomy *Surveying instrument *Measurement instrument
==Notes== {{reflist}}
{{Portal bar|Astronomy|Stars|Spaceflight|Outer space|Solar System}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Astronomical instruments list of}} Instruments Category:Astronomical instruments