Islamic Astrolabe

Made:
901-1100 CE in Syria
Brass Islamic planispheric astrolabe of Syrian origin with Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated

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

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

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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 

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

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Brass Islamic planispheric astrolabe of Syrian origin with
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass Islamic planispheric astrolabe of Syrian origin with cursive & Kufic Arabic script, fitted with three latitude plates (28/31°, 36/39 ° & 30/42 ° - later 16th century?), unsigned without date, 901-1100 CE. Latitude plate engraved on mater. Fitted with later hexagonal nut and bolt.

Made in ninth century, this unsigned brass Islamic astrolabe is from the Middle East and probably of Syrian origin. This front view shows the moveable fretwork plate called the rete that denotes star positions by straight tapering pointers. The astrolabe is in essence a model of the universe that an astronomer could hold in their hands. Popular in Medieval and Renaissance Europe, its many uses included timekeeping, astrology and surveying. The astrolabe is a two-dimensional depiction of the heavens whose layout is achieved using the mathematical technique of stereographic projection. From its origins in the Ancient World, Islamic astronomers developed the astrolabe from where it spread to Europe.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1981-1380
Materials:
brass
Measurements:
overall: 160 mm x 10 mm, 120 mm, 2kg
type:
astrolabe
credit:
Purchased