Planispheric Astrolabe (and also below) from Persia, 1675/6 (A.H. 1086). Made by Muhammad Amin.
One of the many astrolabes from the Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, who describe their collection as “the world’s largest and most important”. There are pages and pages of these beautiful instruments with large photographs of each in a disassembled state, the better to see the shape of their retes. The site also has an introductory area describing their multiple uses and showing some unusual examples such as an astrolabe clock, and an incredible spherical astrolabe from 1480.
The rete.
Previously on { feuilleton }
• The Midsummer Chronophage
Fabulous!