Quadrant (back)

A quadrant is a quarter of a circumference of a circle. This brass example was used with a plumb line and bead for taking altitude observations. It was made in England in the early 17th century and is unsigned. The picture shows the back of the quadrant.

The back of the Gunter quadrant has a movable planispheric nocturnal in the shape of a disc, with an alidade which can point to the months indicated by a letter inside the disc, and to an hour and zodiac scale.

A development of the astrolabe and William Oughtred's horizontal instrument, this form of quadrant was described by Edward Gunter is his 1623 treatise, The Description and Use of the Sector, Cross-staff and other Instruments.

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Online ID:	000-100-102-677-C
Image Rights Holder:	National Museums Scotland
Project:	0098: National Museums Scotland Project description \| View all records in project
Ref:	National Museums Scotland T.1926.7
Date:	Early 17th century
Material:	Brass
Dimensions:	3.63" radius
What:	Quadrant
Subject:	3. ASTRONOMY, Quadrants (Departmental Classification)
Who:
Where:	England
Event:
Description:	Brass quadrant, unsigned, England, early 17th century
References:	Description of the quadrant given by Turner, A.J., The Time Museum: Volume 1 Time Measuring Instruments Part 1, Astrolabes, Astrolabe Related Instruments. Rockford, Illinois: 1985, pp 202-10
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