This is a rare and beautiful heavy solid brass antique reproduction of an astrolabe. The astrolabe is an ancient astronomical mechanical computer used to solve problems such as determining the time of day or night, location of celestial objects, and time of sunrise and sunset. The astrolabe's origin is from ancient Greece, circa 225 BCE, and was introduced into the Islamic world during the 8th and 9th centuries.
The astrolabe consists of a front cut away rotatable disk called the rete (Latin for net). The rete has pointers that represent several of the brightest stars. The ecliptic circle on the rete is divided into the 12 signs of the zodiac. Under the rete are five brass plates that are engraved with altitude and azimuth circles for different latitudes. In use, one would use the disk that most closely matched the observer's latitude.
The back and the holder of the disks and the rete is called the mater (Latin for mother) and a rotating pointer called an alidade. The perimeter of the mater is marked 24 hours with noon at top and midnight at the bottom. The back of the astrolabe is engraved with several scales for determining the longitude of the sun for any date, and a shadow square used to solve trigonometric problems.
- Dimensions: 6.75 inches H x 5 inches D
- Made in England/India
- Materials: Hand Engraved Brass
- Item#: ASTROLABE-DSK
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