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Astrolabe
The astrolabe is one of the earliest Scientific instruments, the planispheric astrolabe was used by Mediaeval Arab astronomers and astrologers to calculate the positions of major stars. |
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| The astrolabe consists
of several parts: in the foreground of these two examples you
can see ornate and intricate rings (called retes) which have several pointers representing prominent stars. Behind the rotating rete is a plate with lines on it representing the sky at a given latitude. Around the outside edge of the astrolabe are markings to represent the date and time of day. By rotating the rete to the correct position the location and time of rising and setting of major stars can be precisely calculated. Apart from their value as scientific instruments, the astrolabes also gave Arab craftsmen an opportunity to show off their skills in designing and working in brass. Today, surviving astrolabes are highly prized and command correspondingly high prices in the international antiques market. The largest astrolabes were as much as 30cm in diameter, but they were generally far smaller. AGM's models which are fairly representative of the average personal instrument - at 8 cm diameter - are an ideal size for desk or wall ornaments. |
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| NB The instruments shown
above are for illustrative purposes only, and are not AGM designs. |
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