Astrolabe

From Inventions

(Difference between revisions)
Jump to: navigation, search
m (1 revision)
 
(5 intermediate revisions not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
|nome=  
|nome=  
-
Usato fin dall'antichità, il nome deriva dal greco ''astrolábon'' (da ''astron'' e ''lambánō'', ossia che prende/comprende le stelle)
+
Used since ancient times, the name derives from the Greek ''astrolábon'' (from ''astron'' and ''lambánō'', that which takes in/comprises the stars)
 +
 
 +
|descrizione=
 +
Instrument perfected by Arab astronomers but already known, according to some scholars, to Apollonius and Archimedes (220 B.C.E.) and even to Eudoxus of Cnidos (350 B.C.E.). Better grounded is the belief that the astrolabe was known to Ptolemy (150 C.E.) and to Theon of Alexandria (375 C.E.), author of a treatise on the astrolabe that survived through the writings of the Syrian author Severus Sebokht, prior to 660 (O. Neugebauer, 1949). The instrument derives from a plane (stereometric) projection of Eudoxus’s armillary sphere, which represented the circles of the celestial sphere in three dimensions. These circles (the ecliptic and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) are projected onto the equatorial plane from a point situated at the South Pole, assumed to be the eye of an observer looking toward the northern hemisphere, according to the method described by Ptolemy in his ''Planisphere'' (ed. R. Sinisgalli, 1992). From this ideal viewing point the tropics and the equator appear as concentric circles centred around the North Pole, while the ecliptic appears off-centred and tangent to the circles of the tropics at the solstitial points. The horizon at the observer’s latitude is a circle passing through the equinoctial points (intersection of the ecliptic with the equator) and containing the circles of the ''azimuth'' (longitude) and ''almucantarats'' (latitude) converging toward the ''zenith'' (the point where a a vertical extending from the observer’s viewing point intersects the celestial sphere). Below the horizon, in the lower part of the instrument, are the lines of the seasonal hours (unequal) that pass through the twelve divisions traced on the arcs of circle of the Tropics and the equator comprised in this zone. The sixth hour is the only straight line, passing through the centre, which also represents the meridian. This diagram is usually engraved on a brass disk, on which rotates the so-called rete, a perforated disk representing the ecliptic, with the twelve signs of the zodiac, the tropic of Capricorn and the fixed stars of the eighth sphere. The whole is contained in a disk (''mater'') with raised edge (''limb'') engraved with the equal hour lines and the 360 degrees of the circle. This side of the instrument served to demonstrate the circumpolar motion of the stars and calculate their displacement, along with that of the Sun; to convert ecliptic into equinoctial coordinates and vice versa; and to read both diurnal and nocturnal time. On the other side of the astrolabe (''back'') a degree scale, zodiac and calendar are marked around the edge. In the lower part of the central disk is the shadow square used to measure distances and heights, both celestial and terrestrial. The shadow square, divided into twelve parts per side, reproduces the shadows cast by a vertical gnomon (''umbra recta'') or a horizontal one (''umbra versa''). Sighting is done through a diopter or alidade that shows the angle of inclination of the visual ray. As indicated by Juan de Rojas and Cosimo Bartoli, this side of the astrolabe also seems to have served for drawing in perspective: ''utilissimum proculdubio architectis, atque his, qui opticae rationem aliquid in pictura conatur delineare'' (Rojas, IV, XII); "which will be most useful to Architects, and to those who delight in using perspective in painting". (Bartoli, I, XXV).
-
|descrizione= Strumento perfezionato dagli astronomi arabi ma già noto, secondo alcuni, ad Apollonio e Archimede (220 a.C.) e perfino a Eudosso di Cnido (350 a.C.). Di più certo fondamento è l'opinione che l'astrolabio fosse noto a Tolomeo (150 d.C.) e a Teone di Alessandria (375 d.C.), autore quest'ultimo di un trattato sull'astrolabio sopravvissuto negli scritti del siriaco Severus Sebokht, anteriori al 660 (O. Neugebauer, 1949). Lo strumento nasce da una proiezione piana (stereometrica) della sfera armillare di Eudosso che rappresentava tridimensionalmente i circoli della sfera celeste. Tali circoli (l'eclittica e i tropici del Cancro e del Capricorno) sono proiettati sul piano equatoriale da un punto collocato al polo sud che si suppone essere l'occhio di un osservatore che guarda l'emisfero settentrionale, secondo il metodo descritto da Tolomeo nel ''Planisfero''. Da questo ideale punto di vista i tropici e l'equatore appaiono come circoli concentrici (il centro rappresenta il polo nord) mentre l'eclittica appare decentrata e tangente i circoli dei tropici nei punti di solstizio. L'orizzonte della latitudine di un osservatore è un circolo passante per i punti equinoziali (intersezione dell'eclittica con l'equatore) e contiene i circoli degli ''azimut'' (longitudine) e degli ''almucantarats'' (latitudine) convergenti verso lo ''zenit'' (intersezione con la sfera celeste della verticale condotta dal punto in cui si trova l'osservatore). Sotto l'orizzonte, nella parte inferiore dello strumento, si trovano le linee delle ore stagionali (ineguali) che passano per le dodici divisioni tracciate sugli archi di cerchio dei tropici e dell'equatore compresi in questa zona; la sesta ora è l'unica linea retta, passante per il centro, che rappresenta anche il meridiano. Questo schema è normalmente inciso su un disco di ottone, sopra il quale ruota la cosiddetta [[rete]], un disco traforato che rappresenta l'eclittica, con i dodici segni zodiacali, il tropico del capricorno e le stelle fisse dell'ottava sfera. Il tutto è contenuto in un disco ([[madre]]) con bordo rialzato ([[lembo]]) lungo il quale sono segnate le ore uguali e la divisione della circonferenza in 360°. Questa faccia dello strumento serviva a dimostrare il movimento circumpolare delle stelle, a calcolarne gli spostamenti, insieme a quelli del sole, a tradurre le coordinate eclittiche in coordinate equinoziali e viceversa, e a determinare le ore sia diurne che notturne. Sull'altra faccia dell'astrolabio (dorso) si trovano lungo la circonferenza, la scala dei gradi, lo zodiaco e il calendario, mentre nella parte inferiore del disco centrale si trova il quadrante delle ombre che serve a misurare le distanze e le altezze sia celesti che terrestri. Il quadrante delle ombre, diviso in dodici parti per lato, riproduce le ombre generate da uno gnomone verticale (ombra retta) o orizzontale (ombra versa). L'operazione di traguardo si effettua per mezzo di una [[diottra]] o [[alidada]] che indica l'angolo di inclinazione del raggio visivo. Come indicato da Juan de Rojas e Cosimo Bartoli, questa faccia dell'astrolabio sembra avere avuto anche una funzione per il disegno prospettico: "utilissimum proculdubio architectis, atque his, qui opticae rationem aliquid in pictura conatur delineare" (Rojas, IV, XII); "il che sarà cosa utilissima alli Architettori, et a coloro che si dilettano di mettere in pittura alcuna prospettiva" (Bartoli, I, XXV).
 
|inventore=  
|inventore=  
Line 52: Line 54:
|strumentiesistenti=  
|strumentiesistenti=  
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401002 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1113.] <br />
+
- Museo Galileo, Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Florence <br>
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401004 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1112.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/ArabAstrolabe.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1113.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401003 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1105.] <br />
+
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/esim.asp?c=401004 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1112.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401005 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1109.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/ArabAstrolabe_n01.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1105.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401006 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1107.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/ArabAstrolabe_n02.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1109.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401007 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1110.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1107.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401008 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1106.] <br />
+
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/esim.asp?c=401007 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1110.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401009 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1108.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n01.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1106.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=401014 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1096.] <br />
+
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/esim.asp?c=401009 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1108.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402001 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1114.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n02.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1096.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402032 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1111.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n03.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1114.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402033 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1282.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n04.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1111.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402047 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1123, 1124, 1127.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n05.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1282.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402048 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1095.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n06.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1123, 1124, 1127.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402054 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1093.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n07.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1095.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402056 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1100.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n08.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1093.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402057 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1098.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n09.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1100.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402068 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1097.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n10.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1098.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402069 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1103.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n11.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1097.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=402070 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1094.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n12.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1103.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=403027 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 3361.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n13.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1094.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=403060 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1289.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n14.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 3361.] <br />
-
[http://brunelleschi.imss.fi.it/museum/isim.asp?c=403062 Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1092, 660.] <br />
+
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n16.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1289.] <br />
 +
[http://catalogue.museogalileo.it/object/Astrolabe_n17.html Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1092, 660.] <br />
 +
 
 +
 
 +
- Musée des arts et métiers, Paris<br>
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D1%26K%3D416%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 19543-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D2%26K%3D411%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03882-0001-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D4%26K%3D328%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 20142-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D5%26K%3D417%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05486-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D6%26K%3D415%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05484-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D7%26K%3D577%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03864-0001-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D8%26K%3D425%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03907-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D10%26K%3D424%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 19544-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D11%26K%3D479%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 08431-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D12%26K%3D480%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05485-0000-] <br />
 +
[http://cugnot.cnam.fr:8000/SEARCH/BASIS/collec/internet/objet/DDW?W%3DDESIG+PH+WORDS+%27astrolabe%27+ORDER+BY+DESIG/Ascend%26M%3D14%26K%3D423%26R%3DY%26U%3D1 Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03882-0002-] <br />
 +
 
 +
 
 +
- The Science Museum, London<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={6E469A69-DB06-CD68-9394-34C243175685}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv. 1987-541]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={77D68C31-BF7B-DA0E-4480-256CD1D3F99F}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv.  1880-49]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID={4AA30C1E-AE54-E6B3-DFB3-511A856F3CE7}&s=S1&SearchString=astrolabe&source=Search&viewby=images&cntRead=1&cntDebate=0&cntDCBooks=1&cntDCImages=157& The Science museum, inv.  1985-2077]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID={B4B75A37-49DA-A27C-50A7-1F7D93702DA0}&s=S1&SearchString=astrolabe&source=Search&viewby=images&cntRead=1&cntDebate=0&cntDCBooks=1&cntDCImages=157& The Science museum, inv.  1938-425]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?target=SeeMedium&ObjectID={7E4FE84C-9364-6237-1C38-3C79A5271530}&s=S1&SearchString=astrolabe&source=Search&viewby=images&cntRead=1&cntDebate=0&cntDCBooks=1&cntDCImages=157& The Science museum, inv.  1938-428]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={C18415FD-05AA-DA65-8020-54309F567518}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv.  1986-1190]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={E18D9D6F-97AF-9ED1-806C-FC88D202E75E}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv.  1952-226]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={E3E74B57-82F1-D318-23D7-F4C773F2AE87}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv.  1895-31]<br>
 +
[http://www.ingenious.org.uk/See/?s=S1&ObjectID={9DE5E04D-BB2A-601D-E8DA-2C260D6BD354}&source=Search&target=SeeMedium The Science museum, inv.  1981-1380]<br>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
 
 +
- Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge<br>
 +
[http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple/explore/astronomy/amedievalastrolabe/ Cambridge, The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, inv.  1264]<br>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford <br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=8351&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 15598]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=10133&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 21423]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=7201&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 30402]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=8354&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 31514]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=10190&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 32378]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=8350&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 32534]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2068&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33411]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2091&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33739]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2111&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33767]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2040&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 34268]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2232&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 34314]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=5742&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 35592]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2006&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 36338]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2110&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37148]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2048&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37297]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2002&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37878]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2044&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 41427]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2045&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 40670]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2013&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 41468]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2035&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 44359]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2021&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 45127]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2041&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 48821]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2113&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 49687]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2007&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 47869]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2219&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 51934]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2236&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 52332]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=2046&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 54843]<br>
 +
[http://emu.mhs.ox.ac.uk/Display.php?irn=9231&QueryPage Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 91897]<br>
 +
 
 +
 
 +
- Musée d’histoire des sciences, Geneva <br>
 +
[http://www.ville-ge.ch/mhs/coll_astrolabe.php Geneva, Musée d’histoire des sciences, inv. 1051]<br>
 +
 
 +
|link=
 +
http://www.giocomania.org/pagine/25459/pagina.asp (Italian) <br>
 +
http://www.tuttoscout.org/download/astrolabio/ (Italian) <br>
 +
http://www.astrolabes.org/ (English)<br>
 +
http://www.britannica.com/clockworks/astrolabe.html (English) <br>
 +
http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple/explore/astronomy/amedievalastrolabe/thepartsofanastrolabe/ (English) <br>
 +
http://www.ens-lyon.fr/RELIE/Cadrans/activpedago/TextesCours/WebAstrolabe/Astrolabe.htm (French) <br>  
-
|link=
 
|immagini=   
|immagini=   

Current revision as of 11:51, 7 September 2010

Used since ancient times, the name derives from the Greek astrolábon (from astron and lambánō, that which takes in/comprises the stars)


Contents

Historic Period

2nd C. A.D.


Description

Instrument perfected by Arab astronomers but already known, according to some scholars, to Apollonius and Archimedes (220 B.C.E.) and even to Eudoxus of Cnidos (350 B.C.E.). Better grounded is the belief that the astrolabe was known to Ptolemy (150 C.E.) and to Theon of Alexandria (375 C.E.), author of a treatise on the astrolabe that survived through the writings of the Syrian author Severus Sebokht, prior to 660 (O. Neugebauer, 1949). The instrument derives from a plane (stereometric) projection of Eudoxus’s armillary sphere, which represented the circles of the celestial sphere in three dimensions. These circles (the ecliptic and the tropics of Cancer and Capricorn) are projected onto the equatorial plane from a point situated at the South Pole, assumed to be the eye of an observer looking toward the northern hemisphere, according to the method described by Ptolemy in his Planisphere (ed. R. Sinisgalli, 1992). From this ideal viewing point the tropics and the equator appear as concentric circles centred around the North Pole, while the ecliptic appears off-centred and tangent to the circles of the tropics at the solstitial points. The horizon at the observer’s latitude is a circle passing through the equinoctial points (intersection of the ecliptic with the equator) and containing the circles of the azimuth (longitude) and almucantarats (latitude) converging toward the zenith (the point where a a vertical extending from the observer’s viewing point intersects the celestial sphere). Below the horizon, in the lower part of the instrument, are the lines of the seasonal hours (unequal) that pass through the twelve divisions traced on the arcs of circle of the Tropics and the equator comprised in this zone. The sixth hour is the only straight line, passing through the centre, which also represents the meridian. This diagram is usually engraved on a brass disk, on which rotates the so-called rete, a perforated disk representing the ecliptic, with the twelve signs of the zodiac, the tropic of Capricorn and the fixed stars of the eighth sphere. The whole is contained in a disk (mater) with raised edge (limb) engraved with the equal hour lines and the 360 degrees of the circle. This side of the instrument served to demonstrate the circumpolar motion of the stars and calculate their displacement, along with that of the Sun; to convert ecliptic into equinoctial coordinates and vice versa; and to read both diurnal and nocturnal time. On the other side of the astrolabe (back) a degree scale, zodiac and calendar are marked around the edge. In the lower part of the central disk is the shadow square used to measure distances and heights, both celestial and terrestrial. The shadow square, divided into twelve parts per side, reproduces the shadows cast by a vertical gnomon (umbra recta) or a horizontal one (umbra versa). Sighting is done through a diopter or alidade that shows the angle of inclination of the visual ray. As indicated by Juan de Rojas and Cosimo Bartoli, this side of the astrolabe also seems to have served for drawing in perspective: utilissimum proculdubio architectis, atque his, qui opticae rationem aliquid in pictura conatur delineare (Rojas, IV, XII); "which will be most useful to Architects, and to those who delight in using perspective in painting". (Bartoli, I, XXV).


Bibliographical Resources

Bartoli, Cosimo. Del modo di misurare le distantie, le superficie, i corpi, le piante, le provincie, le prospettive, et tutte le altre cose terrene, che possono occorrere a gli huomini: secondo le vere regole d’ Euclide et degli altri più lodati scrittori. Venezia, F. Franceschi, 1564, I, XXV. Biblioteca Digitale

Chaucer, Geoffrey. A treatise on the astrolabe, in Gunther, Robert William Theodore. Chaucer and Messahalla on the astrolabe, in Early science in Oxford. Oxford, 1929.

Danti, Egnazio. Trattato dell'uso et della fabbrica dell'astrolabio. Con l'aggiunta del planisferio del Rojas. In Fiorenza, appresso i Giunti, 1569.

Danti Egnazio. Dell'uso et fabbrica dell'astrolabio et del planisferio di maestro Egnatio Danti. Novamente ristampato, et accresciuto in molti luoghi, coll'aggiunta dell'uso, e fabbrica di nove altri istromenti astronomici. Firenze, appresso i Giunti, 1578.

Gemma Frisius, Reinerus. De astrolabio catholico liber per Gemmam Frisium: quo latissime patentis instrumenti multiplex usus explicatur et quidquid uspiam rerum mathematicarum tradi possit continetur …. Antverpiae, apud Gregorium Bontium, 1556.

Messahalla. De compositione et utilitate Aastrolabii, in Gunther, Robert William Theodore. Chaucer and Messahalla on the astrolabe, in Early science in Oxford. Oxford, 1929.

Michel, Henri. Traité de l'astrolabe. Paris, Libr. A. Brieux, 1976.

Neugebauer, Otto. Studies in ancient astronomy: IX: The early history of the astrolabe, in «Isis», 40 (1949), pp. 240-56.

Neugebauer, Otto. A history of ancient mathematical astronomy. Berlin, Springer, 1975.

Neugebauer, Otto. Astronomy and history: selected essays. New York, Springer, 1983.

Reisch, Gregor. Margarita philosophica nova cui insunt sequentia. epigrammata in commentationem operis, institutio grammaticae latinae praecepta logices rhetoricae informatio ars memorandi ravennatis beroaldi modus compendi epi. arithmetica musica plana geometrie principia. astronomia cum quibusdam de astrologia philosophia naturalis moralis philosophia cum figuris. Stassburg, Grüninger, 1512.

Reisch, Gregor. Margarita filosofica del R.P.F. Gregorio Reisch: nella quale si trattano tutte le dottrine comprese nella ciclopedia. Accresciuta di molte belle dottrine da Oratio Fineo matematico regio, di novo tradotta in italiano da Gio. Paolo Gallucci. In Vinegia, presso Barezzo Barezz, 1599.

Rojas Sarmiento, Juan de. Commentariorum in astrolabium quod planisphaerium vocant: libri sex nunc primum in lucem editi : his additus est index capitum ac rerum quae toto opere continentur locupletssimus. Lutetiae, apud Vascosanum, 1550, IV, XII.

Saunders, Harold N. The atrolabe: a brief account of its history and construction together with practical instructions showing how it was used and can still be used for solving many astronomical problems. Bude, H.N. Saunders, 1971.

Saunders, Harold N. All the atrolabes. Oxford, Senecio, 1984.

Stöffler, Johannes. Elucidatio fabricae ususque astrolabii. Oppenheim, impressum Jacobum Köbel, 1513.

Tolomeo, Claudio. Il planisfero di Tolomeo. A cura di Rocco Sinisgalli, Salvatore Vistola. Firenze, Cadmo, 1992.

Turner, Anthony. Early scientific instruments: Europe 1400-1800. London, Sotheby, 1987.


Existing Instruments

- Museo Galileo, Institute and Museum of the History of Science, Florence
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1113.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1112.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1105.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1109.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1107.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1110.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1106.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1108.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1096.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1114.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1111.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1282.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1123, 1124, 1127.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1095.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1093.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1100.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1098.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1097.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1103.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1094.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 3361.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1289.
Florence, Museo Galileo. Institute and Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1092, 660.


- Musée des arts et métiers, Paris
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 19543-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03882-0001-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 20142-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05486-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05484-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03864-0001-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03907-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 19544-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 08431-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 05485-0000-
Paris, Musée des arts et metiers, inv. 03882-0002-


- The Science Museum, London
The Science museum, inv. 1987-541
The Science museum, inv. 1880-49
The Science museum, inv. 1985-2077
The Science museum, inv. 1938-425
The Science museum, inv. 1938-428
The Science museum, inv. 1986-1190
The Science museum, inv. 1952-226
The Science museum, inv. 1895-31
The Science museum, inv. 1981-1380


- Whipple Museum of the History of Science, Cambridge
Cambridge, The Whipple Museum of the History of Science, inv. 1264


- Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 15598
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 21423
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 30402
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 31514
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 32378
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 32534
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33411
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33739
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 33767
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 34268
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 34314
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 35592
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 36338
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37148
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37297
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 37878
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 41427
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 40670
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 41468
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 44359
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 45127
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 48821
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 49687
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 47869
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 51934
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 52332
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 54843
Museum of the History of Science, Oxford, inv. 91897


- Musée d’histoire des sciences, Geneva
Geneva, Musée d’histoire des sciences, inv. 1051


Links (External)

http://www.giocomania.org/pagine/25459/pagina.asp (Italian)
http://www.tuttoscout.org/download/astrolabio/ (Italian)
http://www.astrolabes.org/ (English)
http://www.britannica.com/clockworks/astrolabe.html (English)
http://www.hps.cam.ac.uk/whipple/explore/astronomy/amedievalastrolabe/thepartsofanastrolabe/ (English)
http://www.ens-lyon.fr/RELIE/Cadrans/activpedago/TextesCours/WebAstrolabe/Astrolabe.htm (French)


Images


Author of the entry: Filippo Camerota

Personal tools
Categories
In other languages