Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date 1538
Maker Johann Wagner
Place Nuremberg
Material Brass
Inventory no. 40443
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Throne

The throne is of the three-lobed type . The throne is attached with a soldered base. Each of the lobes is decorated with a 5-pedalled flower.

Mater

The mater and limb are of two pieces, soldered construction. . Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Equal hours 1 - 12 Times of day Every 1 hours Circular, concentric outer

The limb is inscribed:
Content Translation Notes Type
HORE EQUALES Equal hours On the edge of the limb, between the third and fourth hours Scale label
OCCIDENS West On the edge of the limb, at the sixth hour Direction
SEPTENT9 North On the edge of the limb, at the twelfth hour Direction
HORE EQUALES Equal hours On the edge of the limb, at the third hour on the lower edge of the limb Scale label
ORIENS East On the edge of the limb, at the sixth hour Direction
MERIDIES South On the edge of the limb, spanning the throne Direction

Womb


The womb bears a table of horizons.
The womb contains 1 scales of the following types:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Table of Horizons 10 - 90 Degrees Every 10 degrees None None

Circles

Type Labelled Style Notes
Equator EQINOCTIAL (Latin in Roman Capital script) Plain line.
Tropic of Cancer TROPI CĀCRI (Latin in Roman Capital script) Plain line.
Tropic of Capricorn TROPI CĀPCO[RUM] (Latin in Roman Capital script) Plain line.

Lines

Type Labelled Description
Meridian line ME RECT9 (Latin in Roman Capital script)
Horizon rectus ORIZON RECTVS (Latin in Roman Capital script)
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