Forwarded from Mysterious Earth
astrolabe.pdf
1.9 MB
The Astrolabe by Wilfred de Graaf
โOne of the most widely used astronomical instruments over time is the astrolabe. Astrolabes were mainly used for two purposes: for astronomical observations and calculations, and for astrology. In this treatise we focus on the astronomical purposes of the astrolabe.
The astrolabe is a flat and portable instrument mostly made of brass on which the positions of the sun and some of the major stars are projected relatively to the observers horizon. Its mathematical principles date back to Greek antiquity. The principle of stereographic projection was known to the Greek astronomer Hipparchus of Nicaea (150 B.C.). Although it remains uncertain, it seems probable that Ptolemy used an instrument like the astrolabe. Certain is that he wrote a treatise on stereographic projection. Unfortunately no Greek astrolabes have survived.โ
โOne of the most widely used astronomical instruments over time is the astrolabe. Astrolabes were mainly used for two purposes: for astronomical observations and calculations, and for astrology. In this treatise we focus on the astronomical purposes of the astrolabe.
The astrolabe is a flat and portable instrument mostly made of brass on which the positions of the sun and some of the major stars are projected relatively to the observers horizon. Its mathematical principles date back to Greek antiquity. The principle of stereographic projection was known to the Greek astronomer Hipparchus of Nicaea (150 B.C.). Although it remains uncertain, it seems probable that Ptolemy used an instrument like the astrolabe. Certain is that he wrote a treatise on stereographic projection. Unfortunately no Greek astrolabes have survived.โ