Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date ca. 1585
Maker Erasmus Habermel
Place Germany
Material Brass
Inventory no. 37297
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
The rete is of the ecliptic (none) type. The rete is dominated by the ecliptic circle. Three partial circles each function as star pointers. The rete has been repaired where the meridian strap and the east-west strap both broke from the ecliptic band (as seen on the back of the rete).The zodiac on the rete is labelled: ARIES , TAVRVS , GEMINI , CANCER , LEO , VIRGO , LIBRA , SCORPIVS , SAGITTARIVS , CAPRICORN9 , AQUVARIVS , PISCES

Scales


Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Ecliptic 0 - 30 Degrees of equator Not numbered  Ecliptic ecliptic
Calendar First day of month - Last day of month Days of year Last day of the month  Ecliptic ecliptic

Stars

There are 18 stars on the rete marked with flamant 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
Venter Ceti Baten Kaitos 24.0° of Aries -12° flamant
Caput Medusæ Algol 12.0° of Taurus 40° flamant
Oculus Tauri Aldebaran 4.0° of Gemini 16° flamant
Hircus Capella 12.0° of Gemini 46° flamant
Sinister pes Orionis Rigel 14.0° of Gemini -9° flamant
Canis Maior Sirius 7.0° of Cancer -17° flamant
Lucida Hÿdræ Alphard 15.0° of Leo -5° flamant
Cor ♌ Regulus 24.0° of Leo 14° flamant
Cauda Leonis Denebola 21.0° of Virgo 16° flamant
Spica Spica 17.0° of Libra -9° flamant
Vrsa Maior Alkaid 24.0° of Libra 50° flamant
Arcturus Arcturus 2.0° of Scorpio 22° flamant
Luminosior Lancis Australis Zubenelhakrabi 9.0° of Scorpio -17° flamant
Lira Vega 4.0° of Capricorn 38° flamant
Aquila Altair 20.0° of Capricorn flamant
Cauda Cigni Deneb 5.0° of Aquarius 44° flamant
Umbilic9 Pegasi Alpheratz 26.0° of Pisces 27° flamant

Pin Image:

astrolabe part (photo)

Pin & Horse

The rete is attached using a pin & horse. The head of the pin is decorated with an ornate floral pattern.
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