Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date 1505/06 (A.H. 911)
Maker Muḥammad Ṣaffār
Place Persia
Material Brass
Inventory no. 51182
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
The rete is of the indicator-line (simple) type. There is a single rotation knob in the lower-left portion of the indicator line.The star pointer for Vega is a small bird

Stars

There are 0 stars on the rete marked with hook 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

Horse Image:

astrolabe part (photo)

Pin & Horse

The rete is attached using a pin & horse. The pin is far too long, suggesting that this is a later replacement. It is also possible that the horse is a replacement, for a thicker horse would take up the slack in the pin.
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science