Astrolabe Catalogue

 

Small image of astrolabe rete separated from astrolabe. Click to enlarge.
Date early 17th century
Place Europe
Material Brass
Inventory no. 54424
Acquisition Presented by J. A. Billmeir in 1957
The rete is of the arsenius type. Crude Arsenius style with trompe l’oeil strapwork. Note, solder marks on the back of the rete suggest that some of the star pointers have been replaced .The zodiac on the rete is labelled: Aries ♈ , Tavrvs ♉ , Gemini ♊ , Cancer ♋ , Leo ♌ , Virgo ♍ , Libra ♎ , Scorpivs ♏ , Sagittarivs ♐ , Capricornvs ♑ , Aqvarivs ♒ , Pisces ♓

Stars

There are 19 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
Caput Medusae Algol 13.0° of Taurus 46° flamant
Canis maior Sirius 20.0° of Taurus -8° flamant
Oculus ♉ Aldebaran 5.0° of Gemini 22° flamant
Hircus Capella 12.0° of Gemini 51° flamant
Pes sinister Orionis Rigel 15.0° of Gemini -1° flamant
Humerus dexter Orio Betelgeuse 25.0° of Gemini 14° flamant
Canis minor Procyon 18.0° of Cancer 13° flamant
Cor ♌ Regulus 23.0° of Leo 20° flamant
Cauda ♌ Denebola 20.0° of Virgo 30° flamant
Spica ♍ Spica 17.0° of Libra -1° flamant
Arcurus Arcturus 2.0° of Scorpio 29° flamant
Chele 12.0° of Scorpio -15° flamant
Lanx Borealis 16.0° of Scorpio 0 flamant
Lucensin Corona Alphecca 22.0° of Scorpio 35° flamant
Cor ♏ Antares 3.0° of Sagittarius 17° flamant
Aquila Altair 19.0° of Capricorn 15° flamant
Cauda Cigni Deneb 5.0° of Aquarius 55° flamant
Crux ♒ Skat 23.0° of Aquarius -9° flamant

Nut & Bolt

The rete is attached using a nut & bolt. simple threaded pin with square nut.
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