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Astrolabe (back), owned by Robert Gordon of Straloch, Aberdeenshire

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made in France

Postcard of Astrolabe (back), owned by Robert Gordon of Straloch, Aberdeenshire.
000-190-000-944-C
© National Museums Scotland

Astrolabe (back), owned by Robert Gordon of Straloch, Aberdeenshire

This brass astrolabe dates from the early 15th century. It was made in France, probably by Jean Fusoris (c. 1365-1436), and later owned by Robert Gordon (1580-1661) of Straloch in Aberdeenshire.

The photograph shows the back of the instrument, with the alidade mounted. The astrolabe has a ring for suspension. By using the shadow square together with an angular observation, the astrolabe can be used as a surveying instrument.

Robert Gordon made a major contribution to Scottish cartography by extensively revising the manuscript surveys of Timothy Pont (c.1565-c.1614) for publication by the Blaeus in Amsterdam.


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Online ID: 000-190-000-944-C
Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
Project: 0098: National Museums Scotland
Project description | View all records in project
Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1947.27
Date: c. 1460
Early 15th century
Material: Inscription: Robertius Gordonius [on rim]
Dimensions:
What: Astrolabe
Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Astrolabes (Departmental Classification)
Who: Gordon of Straloch (Owner)
Where:
Event:
Description: Gordon of Straloch's astrolabe, probably dating from 1460, with Robertius Gordonius on rim
References:
  • For Gordon's map-mapping contribution, see Royal Scottish Geographical Society, The Early Maps of Scotland to 1850. Edinburgh: 1973 pp 44-53, 138 
  • Macdonald, A. & Morrison-Low, A.D., A Heavenly Library: Treasures from the Royal Observatory's Crawford Collection. Edinburgh: Royal Observatory & NMS, 1994, p 25 
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