Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe back with rules or alidades removed. Click to enlarge.
Date 1682 (A.H. 1093)
Maker Qāsim ‘Alī Qā’inī
Place Persia
Material Brass
Inventory no. 45509
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Back



The back contains 15 scales of the following types:
Type
(click to view scale details)
Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Altitude 0 - 90, Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric Upper right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Altitude 0 - 90, Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric Upper left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Sine/Cosine 1/60 of quadrant radius Not numbered  Angle Upper left quadrant (inside circular scales)
Declination Summer solstice - Winter solstice, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal Not numbered  Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Azimuth of Qibla Cities Not numbered  Arc Upper right quadrant (inside circular scales)
Shadow square 1 - 7, Feet Every 1 feet Box Left hand vertical 'face' of the shadow square (in LL)
Shadow square 1 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Right hand vertical face of the shadow square (in LR)
Cotangent 0 - 35, Feet Every 5 feet Circular, concentric Lower left quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Cotangent 0 - 42, Fingers Every 6 fingers Circular, concentric Lower right quadrant of outer circular on back of instrument.
Triplicities Planet   Inner Box Box 'inside' the shadow square. Common site for triplicities, etc.
Zodiacal signs Aries - Pisces, Zodiacal sign   Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the outer circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Lunar Mansions 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Lunar mansion   Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the V circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Faces 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal   Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the VI circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Decans 0° Aries - 30° Pisces, Zodiacal divisions, equal or unequal   Inner Circular, concentric half circle inside the VII circle (on mashriqi astrolabes) - covering LL and LR
Shadow square 0 - 12, Fingers Every 3 fingers Box Right hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LR)
Shadow square 0 - 7, Feet Every 1 feet Box Left hand bottom face of the shadow square (in LL)
The back is inscribed:
Transcription Translation Notes Type
صنعت قاسم على قائني ١٠٩٣ Qāsim ‘Alī Qā’inī made this, A.H. 1093 Maker's signature
[inscription in upper right quadrant, just above the central hole] [ pending ] None
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