Celestial globe (detail)

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This is a detail of a globe of the heavens, the 'New British Celestial Globe', made in 1800 by Thomas M. Bardin of London. The globe was retailed by J. Webb, an optician based in London's Tottenham Court Road.

The inscription states the the globe gives 'the exact position of more than 3800 FIXD/STARS, Nebulae; Planetary Nebulae &c : according to the Latest Discoveries and Observations of Dr Maskeleyne, Dr Hershell and other eminent / Astronomers'.

While globes were usually produced in pairs, with a terrestrial and a celestial globe, terrestrial globes were more heavily used in the classroom and frequently - as here - do not survive.

Record details

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-052-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1971.232
• Date: 1800
  
• Material: Paper gores on gesso, brass meridian ring. Inscription: THE / NEW TWELVE INCH / British Celestial Globe / the exact positions of more than 3800 FIXD / STARS, Nebulae, &c accord
  Celestial globe
  
• Dimensions: 435 mm H x 425 mm max W
  
• What: Celestial globe
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Celestial globes (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Dr Herschell (Inscribed on the globe)
  Dr Maskelyne (Inscribed on the globe)
  J. Webb (Optician) (Inscribed on the globe)
  T.M. Bardin, London (Maker)
  
• Where: England, London
  England, London (Totenham Court Road)
  
• Event:
• Description: Celestial globe, on a four-legged stand, made by T.M. Bardin of London in 1800
  
• References:
  • Millburn, John R., Rossack, Tor E., 'Bardin Globes and their Makers' in Bulletin of the Scientific Instrument Society, No. 36 (1993) 
• Translations:
• Related Records: