Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Front of astrolabe without rete or plates. Click to enlarge
Date 18th century
Place Persia (?)
Material Brass
Inventory no. 50180
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957

Throne

The throne is of the indo-persian, broad type with integrated support(s) made of . The throne is attached with a integrated base. A plain throne, with no engraved decoration or inscription on the front or the back. It culminates in a tulip-shaped point to which the shackle attaches.

Ring

The ring is of the simple, round cross-section type (i.e. simple plain ring made from a round rod or piece of metal). This ring was constructed from an oval shaped rod, which was bent into a circle but not soldered where the ends meet.

Shackle

Shackle of the eye-bolt type (i.e. any shackle that attactes to the ring via an eye-bolt type feature). The shackle has two distinct parts: an eye hole at the top through which passes the ring; a box-shaped part at the bottom that attaches to the throne..

Mater

The mater and limb are of one-piece construction. At the bottom of the limb, on the inside, there is a small tab to prevent the tympans from rotating.. Scales on the limb:
Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Degree 0 - 360 Degrees of arc Every 5 degrees Circular, concentric None

Womb


The womb contains a gazetteer with coordinates for 22 cities:
City
(on instrument)
Translation
(when known)
Longitude Latitude Inhiraf Jihat
مكه معظمه Mecca 77°10 21°40 00
مدينه Medina 75°20 24°00 37°20 SHJ
لحسا Lahsa 83°30 24°00 69°30 GHJ
موصل Mosul 77°00 34°30 11°52 GHJ
مراغه Maragheh 82°00 37°10 16°17 GHJ
تبريز Tabriz 82°00 38°00 15°40 GHJ
اردبيل Ardabil 82°30 38°00 17°33 GHJ
شماخى Shamakhi 84°30 40°50 20°09 GHJ
بغداد Baghdad 80°00 33°25 12°45 GHJ
بصره Basr 84°00 30°00 37°19 GHJ
شوشتر Shushtar 84°30 31°30 34°24 GHJ
شيراز Shiraz 88°00 29°36 33°38 GHJ
يزد Yazd 89°00 32°00 48°28 GHJ
همدان Hamadan 83°00 35°10 22°16 GHJ
ساوه Sawah 85°00 35°00 29°16 GHJ
اصفهان Isfahan 86°40 32°25 40°29 GHJ
قم Qom 85°40 34°45 31°15 GHJ
كشان Kashan 86°00 34°00 34°31 GHJ
سمنان Semnan 88°00 36°00 36°17 GHJ
نيشابور Nishapur 92°30 36°21 46°25 GHJ
سبزوار Sabzawar 91°30 36°05 44°12 GHJ
طوس Ṭus 92°30 37°00 44°06 GHJ
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