Astrolabes / Exhibition / Cosmos
Cosmos
Astrolabes have a cosmic reach: the name says that they take hold of the stars. The user seems to control an instrument of great power, presenting night skies for any time in the future, or recalling skies that are long past. Most astrolabes deal with the stars and the sun, but the terrestrial globe, the moon and even the planets can come within their grasp. Bringing the cosmos within the reach of a single instrument is part of the ancient fascination of the astrolabe.Sun and moon | The planets | The largest astrolabe in Oxford | The smallest astrolabe in Oxford |