Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date 1733/4 (A.H. 1146)
Maker Muḥammad ibn Aḥmad al-Baṭṭuṭī
Place Morocco
Material Brass
Inventory no. 51459
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
The rete is of the indicator-line (simple) type. This rete is characterised by the trefoil-shaped bases of the star pointers and the four knobs for rotating it..The zodiac on the rete is labelled: الحمل , الثور , الجوزا , السرطان , الاسد , السنبله , الميزان , العقرب , القوس , الجدي , الدلو , الحوت

Stars

There are 26 stars on the rete marked with dagger pointers. Unless otherwise indicated the star name, mediation and declination are as marked/measured on the rete.
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
الواقع Vega pointer damaged pointer damaged dagger
ذنب قيطس Deneb Kaitos 27.0° of Aries -12° dagger
راس الغول Algol 15.0° of Taurus 40° dagger
الدبران Aldebaran 7.0° of Gemini 17° dagger
قدم الجوزا Rigel 16.0° of Gemini -7° dagger
العيوق Capella 18.0° of Gemini 45° dagger
منكب الجوزا Betelgeuse 24.0° of Gemini dagger
العبر Sirius 8.0° of Cancer -15° dagger
الغميصا Procyon 20.0° of Cancer dagger
زبانا السرطان Acubens 27.0° of Cancer 16° dagger
يد الذب 10.0° of Leo 55° dagger
منير الشجاع Alphard 17.0° of Leo -6° dagger
رجل الذب Tania Australis 17.0° of Leo 45° dagger
السماك الرمح Arcturus 0.0° of Virgo pointer damaged dagger
الاعزل Spica 16.0° of Virgo -9° dagger
جناح الغراب Gienah 17.0° of Virgo -14° dagger
عنق الحيه Unukalhai 22.0° of Scorpio 22° dagger
الفكة Alphecca 29.0° of Scorpio 28° dagger
قلب العقرب Antares 8.0° of Sagittarius -24° dagger
راس الحوا Rasalhague 21.0° of Sagittarius 13° dagger
النسر الطاير Altair 22.0° of Capricorn dagger
الدلفين Deneb Dulfim 3.0° of Aquarius 11° dagger
الردف Deneb 7.0° of Aquarius 48° dagger
ذنب الجدي Deneb Algiedi 17.0° of Aquarius -18° dagger
منكب الفرس Scheat 10.0° of Pisces 25° dagger
ذنب قيطس Deneb Kaitos Shemali 29.0° of Pisces -10° dagger

Horse Image:

astrolabe part (photo)

Pin & Wedge

The rete is attached using a pin & wedge. The pin is quite long, and may not be original. The wedge is an elaborately carved piece, not uncommon on maghribi astrolabes..
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science