Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date ca. 1650
Maker Muḥammad Mahdī
Place Persia
Material Gilt brass
Inventory no. 50143
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Back



The back contains 13 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 Summer solstice - Winter solstice, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal Not numbered  Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Altitude of noon sun 26 - 47, Degrees Every 3 degrees Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Azimuth of Qibla Cities Not numbered  Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Cotangent 0 - 35, Feet Every 5 feet Circular, concentric Lower left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Cotangent 0 - 45, Fingers Every 5 fingers Circular, concentric Lower right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Zodiacal signs Aries - Pisces, Zodiacal sign Not numbered  Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the outer circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Terms 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal At each term  Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the V circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Faces 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal Not numbered  Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the VI 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)
The back is inscribed:
Transcription Translation Notes Type
نقشه محمد مهدي اليزدي Engraved by Muḥammad Mahdī al-Yazdī Inscription in unusually-shaped cartouche. The inscription is worn and difficult to read Maker's signature
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science