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Astrolabe on Stand -
Astrolabe on Stand -
Astrolabe on Stand -
Astrolabe on Stand
Astrolabe on Stand
Astrolabe on Stand

Astrolabe on Stand

£40.00 Sale

Still in use today, an astrolabe can used to illustrate in a clear and simple way the celestial mechanism and the apparent movement of the stars. This replica, in polished brass, sits in a wooden plinth.

An astrolabe is the most used multipurpose astronomical instrument in history. Earliest examples date from around 200BC, but they rose to prominence in the Middle East and Europe in the Middle Ages.

Essentially, it’s an elaborate inclinometer-cum-slide rule, used to measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body. It can be used to identify stars or planets, to determine local latitude.

The arrival, in the 17th-18th centuries, of accurate sextants and reliable portable chronometers rendered the astrolabe obsolete for navigation at sea, but it remains a fascinating and little-understood instrument.

  • Polished brass
  • Wooden plinth
  • 7"
  • Please note: This astrolabe is intended for decorative purposes and is not to be used for serious navigation
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