'astroscope' originates from Greek roots, specifically 'astron' (star) and 'skopein' (to look), combined in modern English coinage.

'astroscope' was formed in English by combining Greek elements ('astron' + 'skopein') following the model of scientific coinages like 'telescope' and 'microscope'; it appears as a rare/technical or historical term in 19th-century writings.

Initially coined to mean 'an instrument for looking at stars,' the term has remained specialized and rare; its sense has not undergone major change but it has become largely obsolete in everyday usage.