MHS Astrolabe home page. Introduction The Museum of the History of Science houses the world's largest and most important collection of astrolabes. With ancient origins and a two thousand year history, the astrolabe illuminates astronomy, time-telling, astrology and religion across cultures, time and place. The Museum's collection ranges from India and the Middle East to Europe, with many unique and significant examples. This website has two sections: Exhibition - an introduction based on the Museum's exhibition 'The Astrolabe, East and West'.Catalogue - a uniquely comprehensive account of all the astrolabes in the Museum collection: browsable, searchable and fully illustrated. This online resource is part of the project 'A Universal Geometry: the Astrolabe East and West'. The astrolabes also feature online in the Museum's more general collections database.
Astrolabe Generator. Applet: Gunter's Quadrant. Gunter's Quadrant Applet See instructions for interactive use below Quadratum Horarium Generale (Regiomontanus Dial) Apian Dial Capuchin Dial Visit my Applet Collection Details for interactive use: Thanks to James E. The zodiac and the ecliptic longitude: The zodiac symbols are from the MarVoSym font, used by the applet. My prototype of Gunter's quadrant, set to Aug.10: Under construction! The Electric Astrolabe. The Electric Astrolabe is a fully animated planetarium program in the form of a planispheric astrolabe. The singular advantage of the astrolabe display is that it shows most of the sky, both visible and invisible, on a single screen. Unlike a static instrument, The Electric Astrolabe can be set for any location, date and time and includes accurate positions of the Sun, Moon, and planets. In addition, The Electric Astrolabe includes over 150 stars which can be displayed as constellation asterisms and all of the Messier objects.
Either a north or south projection can be shown. Also included are an animated orrery showing the planetary orbits and several text screens giving accurate solar, lunar and planetary positions, a help screen and several screens for customizing the program to your location and choice of colors and making it easy to use. It is a DOS program, but has been tested and runs very nicely under all versions of Windows (but see below for Vista and 7).
DOSBox. Personal astrolabe. The Astrolabe: the original astronomical computer The Personal Astrolabe from Janus is an inexpensive astrolabe recreation that makes the joys and mysteries of the astrolabe available to everyone. Most astrolabe reproductions are intended to teach you a little about astrolabes but are not intended to be used. The Personal Astrolabe teaches you about astrolabes, and is also a useful instrument. The Personal Astrolabe is the most accurate astrolabe ever made. Period. It is called The Personal Astrolabe because each instrument is custom made for you, imprinted with your name and city, and includes a set of problems worked specifically for your instrument. The Personal Astrolabe is 7 inches by 8.3 inches (slightly larger than most classic instruments). All astronomical values are calculated for each instrument including the obliquity of the ecliptic, the time of the vernal equinox for your longitude, aphelion and perihelion, and stars are rigorously precessed to the date of the instrument.
The Astrolabe.