star and sundial, Dutch, 1681

Made:
1681 in Delft
maker:
Anthony Sneewins
Combined star and sun (altitude) dial, signed  Anthony Sneewins Star & Sun dial Star & Sun dial. European star and sun dial by Anthony Sneewins

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

Buy this image as a print 

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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 

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

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Combined star and sun (altitude) dial, signed Anthony Sneewins
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Star & Sun dial
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Star & Sun dial. European star and sun dial by Anthony Sneewins
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Combined star and sun (altitude) dial, signed Anthony Sneewins, Delft, Holland, dated 1681.

Dated 1681, this astronomical instrument is believed to be a joint star and sundial for finding local time. Anthony Sneewins, an instrument maker from Delft in Holland, made this dial. This view of the device shows the sundial part of the instrument that indicates equal hours. In use the instrument is held vertically by the ring and rotated until the Sun can be aligned with the moving sighting vane. The position of the vane gives an indication of the Sun's altitude and hence local solar time. This instrument is transitional from the traditional astrolabe that was disappearing in Western Europe and being replaced by instruments such as the ring dial and horary quadrant.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1984-675
Materials:
brass and complete
Measurements:
overall (hung): 190 cm x 30 cm, 130 cm,
type:
astrolabe
credit:
David Weston Ltd.