Disc Planisphere

Disc Planisphere Disc Planisphere

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

King's College, London| Enquiries to Science Museum, London
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Disc planisphere made by Jeremiah Sisson, London, England, 1750-1775. Signed 'J. Sisson London'.

This planisphere was made by Jeremiah Sisson. The outer ring carries the calendar, the next ring the time, and the inner disc carries information about certain bright stars. The index had a cursor which was used to align a star with the date and the time of transit, or passage across the meridian. The times of the transits of all the other stars marked were then shown. Jeremiah Sisson (active 1749-1783) was a mathematical instrument maker based on the Strand in London. He took over the business of his father, Jonathan Sisson, but was declared bankrupt in 1775.

Details

Category:
King George III
Object Number:
1927-1196
Materials:
brass and ivory
Measurements:
overall: 110 mm x 550 mm x 525 mm, 17.03 kg
type:
planispheres and disc planispheres
credit:
King's College, London