Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date ca. 1585
Maker Erasmus Habermel
Place Germany
Material Brass
Inventory no. 37297
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Back


The back bears a Gemma Frisius style universal projection.

Universal

The back contains a universal with a Azarquiel/Saphea/Gemma Frisius projection. The universal contains the following:
Angle of inclination Direction of inclination Labelled Language Script Line style Notes
Ecliptic 23 Top-right/bottom-left Zodiacal symbols Numbers Numbers, stamped Plain
Tropic of Cancer N/A N/A Not labelled Plain
Tropic of Capricorn N/A N/A Not labelled Plain
Arctic circle N/A N/A Not labelled Plain The circle (often represented as a line or arc) at 66.5°. These are commonly found on universal projections
The universal contains the following meridians:
Interval Style of line Number style Description
Plain European Modern Every fifth meridian is hatched
The universal contains the following parallels:
Range Interval Style of line Number style Description
  Plain N/A

The universal contains scales of the following types:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 90, Degrees Every 10 degrees Circular, concentric The entire outer circle on the back of an astrolabe.
Zodiacal signs 0 - 30, Degrees of ecliptic Every 10 degrees Linear On the ecliptic of a universal projection

Stars

The universal contains the following stars. Click on the star name or modern star name to search for other astrolabes with the same star.
Star name
(on instrument)
Modern star
(if known)
Mediation Declination Pointer
Eridani extremŭm Acamar 13.0° of Taurus -40° engraved
Oculus taŭri Aldebaran 2.0° of Gemini 16° engraved
Orionis sin: pes Rigel 14.0° of Gemini -9°
Hircus Capella 14.0° of Gemini 45° engraved
Canopus Canopus 3.0° of Cancer -51° engraved
Canis maior Sirius 7.0° of Cancer -15° engraved
Canicŭla Procyon 19.0° of Cancer engraved
Cor Leonis Regulus 24.0° of Leo 13° engraved
Lyra Vega 5.0° of Capricorn 38° engraved
Aqŭila Altair 21.0° of Capricorn engraved
Cauda cigni Deneb 6.0° of Aquarius 44° engraved
Arcturŭs Arcturus 0.0° of Pisces 21° engraved
Postrema aqŭæ fu: Fomalhaut 3.0° of Pisces -36° engraved
Extre cau: Ursa maioris Alkaid 8.0° of Pisces 51° engraved
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