Astrolabes and Other ancient Instruments

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

You can see many more here at http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/ it is worth a virtual visit. A real visit is another question 

[Richard ParsonsParticipant @richardparsons61721]

[David ColwillParticipant @davidcolwill19261]

Looks very interesting.

Thanks.

Dave 

[adyParticipant @ady]

We used something like that at sea, called starfinders, you need a separate sheet for every 10 degrees of latitude kinda thing.

Meant you could confidently shoot a sight using some goofy celestial bodies no-one had ever heard of unless they were a serious stargazer, or through broken cloud when visibility was bad.

Ships have got GPS now though, just push a button.

 

starfinder

 

I don’t recall anything for planets, mainly because they are so easy to spot on a clear night.

Edited By ady on 28/11/2010 09:13:42

[TerrydParticipant @terryd72465]

Hi all,

 

Anyone interested in the astrolabe might like to look here, there is a little Java applet which runs in a browser to provide printouts for different types of astrolabe which can be modelled from paper or thin card and printable transparencies.  

 

The guy also provides lots of information files on the astrolabe and his program and best of all it’s all free

Hi Ady,

The Astrolabe is a bit more than a starfinder, a lot more in fact.  As someone who did a lot of pleasure sailing as a young man we used RDF in those days but it was still comforting to know how to use something which didn’t need batteries or a power supply in case of breakdown believe me.  This short video is worth watching to the end.

Terry

 

[Brian RutterParticipant @brianrutter93961]

Have a look at this beautiful Astrolabe and watch it being made by hand.

I follow this guy and do not know how to describe him ; Engineer, Artist, Engraver.

He makes tools by hand to make machines to make anything and he is fun.

 

 

Edited By Brian Rutter on 04/10/2020 08:00:14

[Michael GilliganParticipant @michaelgilligan61133]

Thanks for that link, Brian

MichaelG.

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