This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
This image is released under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 Licence
Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated, of Syrian origin; mater and two plates (for 28 degrees
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated, of Syrian origin; mater and two plates (for 28 degrees
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated, of Syrian origin; mater and two plates (for 28 degrees
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, unsigned and undated, of Syrian origin; mater and two plates (for 28 degrees
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum
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
- type:
- astrolabe
- taxonomy:
-
- disciplines
- disciplines
- science
- natural sciences
- physical sciences
- furnishing and equipment
- measuring device - instrument
Cite this page
Rights
We encourage the use and reuse of our collection data.
Data in the title, made, maker and details fields are released under Creative Commons Zero
Descriptions and all other text content are licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 licence
Download
Download catalogue entry as json
Download 
manifest IIIF
Our records are constantly being enhanced and improved, but please note that we cannot guarantee the accuracy of any information shown on this website.
