Nocturnal (front)

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A nocturnal shows the local time at night, by measuring the rotation of the constellations of the Great Bear and the Little Bear around the Pole Star. This pear wood example was made in England around 1760. The photograph shows the front of the nocturnal.

The instrument consists of three parts with a brass central pivot. There is a long index arm and a middle piece with two scales and two pointers marked 'GB' and 'LB'. The main part has a calendrical scale and is marked above the handle 'BOTH BEARS'.

The stamp 'NEW STIL' on the arm indicates that the nocturnal uses the new style Gregorian Calender which was introduced in England in 1752. It replaced the old Julian Calender.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-100-102-692-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1944.3
• Date: Around 1760
  c. 1760
  
• Material: Pear wood. Inscription: New stil [on arm]
  Nocturnal
  
• Dimensions: 4.25" D (circle); 7.31" radius (arm)
  
• What: Nocturnal
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Nocturnals (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who:
• Where: England
  
• Event:
• Description: Nocturnal in boxwood with "New stil" on arm, England, c. 1760
  
• References:
  • For nocturnals in general, see Bennett, J.A., The Divided Circle: A history of instruments for astronomy, navigation and surveying. Oxford: 1987, pp 77-78 
• Translations:
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