Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date 1733/4 (A.H. 1146)
Maker Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Baṭṭuṭī
Place Morocco
Material Brass
Inventory no. 51459
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Back



The back contains 7 scales of the following types:
Type
(click to view scale details)
Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Altitude 0 - 90, Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric Upper right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Altitude 0 - 90, Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric Upper left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Zodiacal signs 0 - 30, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal Every 5  Circular, concentric Circular scale immediately inside the outer scale - refers to the full circle
Calendar Days of year  days Circular, concentric Circular scale second in from the outer scale - refers to the full circle.
Sine/Cosine 1/60 of quadrant radius Not numbered  Angle Upper left quadrant (inside circular scales)
Unequal hours 1 - 6, 1/12 of daylight Every 1 hours Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Left hand vertical 'face' of the shadow square (in LL)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Right hand vertical face of the shadow square (in LR)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Left hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LL)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Right hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LR)
The back is inscribed:
Transcription Translation Notes Type
الحمد لله حبّس الرئيس الجليل الماجد الحفيل الفقيه الأجل سيدي محمد بن المرحوم بكرم الله تعالى القائم على ما ينبغي (؟) هذا الأصطرلاب على منار مولانا إدريس نفع الله به الذي بالحضرة الفاسية Praise be to God. My master, the great, glorious, eager ruler, the greatest jurist, Muḥammad, son of the deceased, may God the Exalted have mercy with him, He, who establishes what is right (?), gave this astrolabe as a bequest to the minaret of our master Idrīs, may God make use of him (for the benefit of others), which is in Fez. Inscription within hour-line diagram Donation
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