Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date 14th century
Place Europe
Material Brass
Inventory no. 47615
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
The rete is of the gothic (quatrefoil) type. Many of the star names are clearly misplaced, e.g., Vega is labelled Althair. In general, the star names have been associated with the corresponding names of the modern stars. In some cases, however, it seemed better to use the star's position to determine the modern star, e.g., Althair is clearly Vega. In other cases, the star intended is so ambiguous that no modern star has been associated with a pointer.The Tropic of Capricorn band ends in the head and tail of a dragon. This rete is unusual in that the head of the dragon is on the left-hand end. On the other retes in the collection that have a zoomorphic Tropic of Capricorn, the head of the dragon is at the other end, indicating the star Antares (on this rete that star is labelled 'Cor Scorpionis').The zodiac on the rete is labelled: ARIES , TAVRVS , GEMINI , CANCER , LEO , VIRGO , LIBRA , SCORPIO , SAGITTARIVS , CAPRICORN9 , AQVARIVS , PISCES

Scales


Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Ecliptic 0 - 30 Degrees of ecliptic Not numbered  Ecliptic ecliptic

Stars

There are 32 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
MIRACH Mirach 5.0° of Aries 36° flamant
VENTER CECI Baten Kaitos 20.0° of Aries -14° flamant
BATENRI 22.0° of Aries -6° flamant
ALGENIB 6.0° of Taurus flamant
ALGENIB Algenib 12.0° of Taurus 47° flamant
ALDEBARAM Aldebaran 25.0° of Taurus 13° flamant
ALCHAIOTH Capella 5.0° of Gemini 44° flamant
RIGIL Rigel 12.0° of Gemini -9° flamant
ALGĒNZE Betelgeuse 13.0° of Gemini flamant
ALABOR Sirius 4.0° of Cancer -18° flamant
ALGOMEIZA Procyon 15.0° of Cancer flamant
CAUDA LEONIS Denebola 25.0° of Cancer 51° flamant
ALFART Alphard 5.0° of Leo -5° flamant
ALGORAB Algorab 9.0° of Leo -17° flamant
COR LEONIS Regulus 22.0° of Leo 14° flamant
CORVVS Gienah 29.0° of Leo -10° flamant
DENEBALGEDI 22.0° of Virgo -14° flamant
ALRAMECH Spica 12.0° of Libra -7° flamant
ALCHIMETH Arcturus 25.0° of Libra 18° flamant
ELFICA Alphecca 17.0° of Scorpio 24° flamant
COR SCORPIOĪS Antares 10.0° of Sagittarius -27° flamant
RAZALEGNE Rasalhague 13.0° of Sagittarius 14° flamant
ALTHAIR Vega 4.0° of Capricorn 36° flamant
DELFIN Altair 16.0° of Capricorn flamant
LIBEDENEB Deneb Dulfim 0.0° of Aquarius 15° flamant
[no name] Deneb Algiedi 6.0° of Aquarius -21° flamant
DELFIN 24.0° of Aquarius 57° flamant
[no name] 26.0° of Aquarius -20° flamant
DENEBAL Skat 0.0° of Pisces -19° flamant
LEBEDENEB 2.0° of Pisces 18° flamant
SCEDER Schedar 17.0° of Pisces 53° flamant
DENEB 18.0° of Pisces -11° flamant

Horse Image:

astrolabe part (photo)

Horse Image:

astrolabe part (photo)

Pin & Wedge

The rete is attached using a pin & wedge. A spacer fits between the wedge and the rete.
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