Astrolabe
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The astrolabe is an ancient astronomical calculator for determining time and the positions of the Sun and stars.
There are several types of astrolabe including the planispheric astrolabe, on which the celestial sphere is projected onto the plane of the equator.
Astrolabes were typicaly made from brass with a diameter of around 15cm.
Period construction
The following instructions for constructing an Astrolabe are from "The arte of nauigation" by Cortes, Martin (1532-1589), published in 1572.
- The.vii.Chapter, of the making and vse of the Astrolabie, with the whiche the Marryners take the altitude of the Sunne.
- Take a plate of copper, or laton, (which for this purpose is better then any other metal) of the bignesse that you desire to make the Astrolabie,
