Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655

Made:
1645-1655 in Iran and Lahore
Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655 Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655 Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655 Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655 Small brass planispheric astrolabe engraved with Arabic script

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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 

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

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

Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Islamic astrolabe, 1645-1655
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum, London

Small brass planispheric astrolabe engraved with Arabic script
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Small brass planispheric astrolabe engraved with Arabic script, thought to be Persian, c. 1650, IC 1056 (international checklist).

This small astrolabe dates from c.1650 and is thought to be Persian in origin. The astrolabe is in essence a model of the universe that an astronomer could hold in their hands. From its origins in the Ancient World, Islamic astronomers developed the astrolabe from where it spread to Europe, becoming popular during the Medieval and Renaissance periods. Its many uses included timekeeping, astrology and surveying. The word 'astrolabe' has been translated variously as "star-taker" and "the one that catches the heavenly bodies".

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1938-427
Materials:
brass
type:
astrolabe
credit:
Mr W.E. Miller