noun
- Plural of heliostat; instruments with a mirror that automatically tracks the sun's movement to reflect sunlight in a fixed direction.
Usage: technical; astronomy and engineering
Examples
- The observatory uses heliostats to direct sunlight into the laboratory for spectroscopic analysis.
- Heliostats on the roof of the building help concentrate solar energy for heating purposes.
- The array of heliostats tracked the sun throughout the day with mechanical precision.
- Researchers installed heliostats to maintain a constant beam of sunlight for their experiments.
- Modern heliostats employ computer controls to follow the sun's path across the sky.