Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date ca. 1700
Maker Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ‘Alī
Place Iṣfahān
Material Brass
Inventory no. 42649
Acquisition Purchased from C. E. Ross in 1925

Back



The back contains 9 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.
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 None
Cotangent 0 - 30, Feet Every 5 feet Circular, concentric Lower left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Cotangent 0 - 40, Fingers Every 5 fingers Circular, concentric Lower right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Shadow square 1 - 7, Feet Every 1 feet Box Left hand vertical 'face' of the shadow square (in LL)
Shadow square 1 - 7, Feet Every 1 feet Box Left hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LL)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 1 fingers Box Right hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LR)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 1 fingers Box Right hand vertical face of the shadow square (in LR)
The back is inscribed:
Transcription Translation Notes Type
صنعه خليل محمد بن حسن علي الحقير الفقير إلى الله الجليل Made by the contemptible Khalīl Muḥammad ibn Ḥasan ʿAlī who is in need of God the Sublime. In a cartouche within the shadow square Maker's signature
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