Date | 17th century |
Place | India |
Material | Brass |
Inventory no. | 33411 |
Acquisition | Presented by A.E. Gunther in 1986 |
The inclusion of a latitude plate for 90 degrees - the North Pole - indicates that this instrument was intended for instruction as well as use. It would have been striking and memorable for a student of astronomy to have seen from such a plate, with its zenith coinciding with the pole and its horizon with the equator, that for half the year - rotating the rete through 24 hours - the sun never sets and for half it never rises. This educational purpose is suggested also by the inclusion of a composite plate, for latitudes 0, 48 and 72 degrees, and by the great deal of information squeezed on to the plates in general.
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Mater
The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. The tab that holds the plates from rotating is located at the bottom of the instrument, i.e., 180° from the throne. Scales on the limb: degree scale. More informationBack
The back contains 15 scales of the following types: Altitude; Sine/Cosine; Declination; Prayer lines; Cotangent; Lunar Mansions; Zodiacal signs; Terms; Faces; Shadow square; Triplicities. More informationRete, Pin & Horse
The rete contains 46 stars. The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الثور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت .The rete contains 1 scale of the following type: Ecliptic.
The rete is attached using a pin & horse. More information
Rules & Alidades
Type | Details |
---|---|
Alidade | Double-ended. This alidade has a sighting rule like
many of the Indian instruments. The alidade might be a
later replacement; the metal is distinctly
different. |