Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date 14th century
Place North Africa
Material Brass
Inventory no. 53556
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Back



The back contains 5 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.
Unequal hours 1 - 6, 1/12 of daylight Not numbered hours Arc Upper left quadrant (inside circular scales)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Not numbered fingers Box All four sides of the shadow square, commonly found in the lower half of the center of the instrument.
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