there are arranged in spaced relationship from one another a first housing block or housing 40 and a second housing block or housing 30 secured by not particularly illustrated attachment means provided laterally at the first housing block 40 is preferably an optical receiver or transmitter 27 for infrared laser visible or other radiation between both first and second housings 40 and 30 there is arranged and pivotably mounted a telescope 28 laterally at the second housing 30 there is provided a telescopic sight 31 operatively associated with the alignment or aligning stand 15 at the telescope tube 28 39 of the telescope 28 and which is pivotably mounted between both of the housings 30 and 40 there is preferably arranged and attached a television camera 29 at the side confronting the housing 30 by means of the signals tv or ir tracking received from the tv camera 29 or the ir receiver 27 it is possible to control the target tracking of the theodolite 200 in fig2 there is shown in front view and partially in sectional view the measuring portion 35 on an enlarged scale and there will be recognised the ir receiver 27 an angle measuring device 26 arranged in the housing 40 the housing 40 itself the telescope 28 with the tv camera 29 the housing 30 for receiving the not particularly shown optical.