Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date ca. 1575
Maker Humphry Cole
Place London
Material Gilt brass
Inventory no. 43454
Acquisition Presented by A. E. Gunther in 1986

Back


An anthropomorphic sun decorates the middle of the unequal hour diagram on the back of the instrument..

The back contains 6 scales of the following types:
Type
(click to view scale details)
Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Altitude 0 - 90, Degrees of arc Every 10 degrees Circular, concentric None
Zodiacal signs 0 - 30, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal Every 10  Circular, concentric Circular scale immediately inside the outer scale - refers to the full circle
Calendar Days of year Every 10 and the end of the month days Circular, eccentric Circular scale second in from the outer scale - refers to the full circle.
Shadow square 0 - 12, None Every 3  Box All four sides of the shadow square, commonly found in the lower half of the center of the instrument.
Unequal hours 1 - 6, 1/12 of daylight Every 1 hours Arc Upper left quadrant (inside circular scales)
Equal hours 1 - 12, Times of day Every 1 hours Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
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