The back contains 12 scales of the following types:
| Type (click to view scale details) |
Range & Units | Numbered | Geometry | Location |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Altitude | 0 - 90, Degrees | Every 5 degrees | Circular, concentric | Upper right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument. |
| Altitude | 0 - 90, Degrees | Every 5 degrees | Circular, concentric | Upper left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument. |
| Declination | Gemini/Cancer - Sagittarius/Capricorn, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal | Every 10 | Arc | Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales) |
| Unequal hours | 1 - 6, 1/12 of daylight | Every 1 hours | Arc | Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales) |
| Sine/Cosine | 1/60 of quadrant radius | Not numbered | Angle | Upper left quadrant (inside circular scales) |
| Cotangent | 0 - 45, Feet | Every 5 feet | Circular, concentric | Lower left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument. |
| Cotangent | 0 - 60, Fingers | Every 5 fingers | Circular, concentric | Lower right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument. |
| Zodiacal signs | Aries - Pisces, Zodiacal sign | Not numbered | Circular, concentric | half circle inside the outer circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR |
| Lunar Mansions | 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Lunar mansion | Not numbered | Inner Circular, concentric | half circle inside the V circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR |
| Shadow square | 0 - 7, Feet | Every 1 feet | Box | Left hand vertical 'face' of the shadow square (in LL) |
| Shadow square | 0 - 7, Feet | Every 1 feet | Box | Left hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LL) |
| Shadow square | 0 - 12, Fingers | Every 1 fingers | Box | Right hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LR) |
| Shadow square | 0 - 12, Fingers | Every 1 fingers | Box | Right hand vertical face of the shadow square (in LR) |