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Cometarium

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probably made in Edinburgh

Cometarium
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A cometarium is a device for illustrating the elliptical motion of a comet around the sun. This example was made around 1790, probably by John Miller, a scientific instrument maker based in Edinburgh.

The cometarium uses a system of pulleys to turn the mechanism. A constant rate of rotation of one wheel produces a variable speed of rotations of the wheel propelling the comet around the sun.

The device was used to teach students at the University of Edinburgh when astronomy formed a part of the ordinary arts curriculum.

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