Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date 16th century
Place Germany
Material Brass
Inventory no. 39887
Acquisition Presented by Lewis Evans in 1924
The rete is of the other (crude) type. This rete is rather unusual and has attracted suspicion that this instrument is a modern fake. Meridian counter changed at pivot. All of the strapwork is much thicker than normal. East-west line counterchanged at pivot. Bulky flament and rather blunt pointers. And the curved strap within the ecliptic all set this rete apart.The zodiac on the rete is labelled: ♈ , ♉ , ♊ , ♋ , ♌ , ♍ , ♎ , ♏ , ♐ , ♑ , ♒ , ♓

Scales


Type Range & Units Numbered Geometry Location
Declination 0 - 20 Degrees 10  Linear meridian

Stars

There are 25 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
CAV CETI ♄ 3 Deneb Kaitos 6.0° of Aries -19° flamant
VMBI ANDRO ♀ 3 Mirach 16.0° of Aries 30° flamant
VEN CE ♄ 3 Baten Kaitos 25.0° of Aries -13° flamant
[Blank] ♄ ♀ 2 11.0° of Taurus 37° flamant
NA CE ♃ 3 Menkar 14.0° of Taurus flamant
CA AL ♄ ♀ 2 Algol 14.0° of Taurus 44° flamant
OCV TAV ♂ ♀ 1 Aldebaran 4.0° of Gemini 15° flamant
HIRCVS ♂ ☿ 2 Capella 11.0° of Gemini 43° flamant
SIN P ORI ♃ ♄ 1 Rigel 14.0° of Gemini -13° flamant
DEX H ORI ♂ ☿ Betelgeuse 22.0° of Gemini flamant
CA MA ♃ ♂ 1 Sirius 4.0° of Cancer -16° flamant
CA MINOR ☿ ♂ 1 Procyon 16.0° of Cancer flamant
LV HIDRE ♄ ♀ 2 Alphard 3.0° of Leo flamant
COR LEO ♂ ♃ 1 Regulus 21.0° of Leo 12° flamant
DO VR MA ♂ 2 0.0° of Virgo 58° flamant
EVN VASIS ♀☿ 4 8.0° of Virgo -16° flamant
CAV 2.0° of Libra 50° flamant
CAV 16.0° of Libra 45° flamant
SPIE VI ♀ ☿ 1 Spica 20.0° of Libra -8° flamant
LANCEATOR ♃ ♂ 2 Arcturus 27.0° of Libra 20° flamant
HV BOE ♄ ☿ 3 Seginus 2.0° of Scorpio 37° flamant
CO SEP ♀ ☿ 2 Alphecca 21.0° of Scorpio 28° flamant
CAP HIR ♂ ♀ 2 Rasalgethi 13.0° of Sagittarius 13° flamant
CA SER ♄ ♀ 2 Rasalhague 19.0° of Sagittarius 12° flamant
CAP DRA Rastaban 26.0° of Sagittarius 53° flamant

Pin & Wedge

The rete is attached using a pin & wedge. Simple pin with indented head.
MHS Home | Contact Us | ©2006 Museum of the History of Science