Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of complete astrolabe back. Click to enlarge.
Date 1659
Maker Henry Sutton
Place London
Material Brass
Inventory no. 51786
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924

Back


The back of the instrument bears a horary projection (an analema). The holes in the plate suggest that it was meant to be mounted and used as a type of sun dial, one of them being used for the gnomon and the remaing three as mounting holes.

The back contains 4 scales of the following types:
Type
(click to view scale details)
Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Calendar Days of year Not numbered days Arc None
Unequal hours 1 - 12, 1/12 of daylight Every 1 hours None None
Equal hours 1 - 12, 1/12 of daylight Every 1 hours Circular, concentric second outermost scale on the front of the limb
Degree 0 - 90, Degrees Every 10 degrees Circular, concentric outermost scale on the front of the limb
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