Astrolabe (back)

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An astrolabe is an instrument used by early astronomers to measure the altitude of stars and planets and also as a navigational aid. This brass example, made in North India in 1643, is one of the earliest known Indian astrolabes in a public collection.

The back of the astrolabe has a scale of degrees and a numeric table for gnomonic purposes. There is an alidade, pin and horse, and six plates for different latitudes.

The tradition of making astrolabes continued in India until well into the 19th century.

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• Online ID: 000-190-001-076-C
• Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
• Project: National Museums Scotland
  Project description   View all records in project
• Ref: National Museums Scotland  T.1986.20
• Date: 1643
  
• Material: Brass. Inscription: Caused to be made by Manirama on the eleventh day of the dark half of the month Caita samrat 1900 [in Sanskrit]
  Astrolabe
  
• Dimensions:
• What: Astrolabe
  
• Subject: 3. ASTRONOMY, Astrolabes (Departmental Classification)
  
• Who: Manirama, Lahore (Maker)
  
• Where: Pakistan, Punjab, Lahore
  
• Event:
• Description: Astrolabe of brass, made by Manirama of Lahore, 1643
  
• References:
  • For astrolabes generally, and then in use, see North, J.R., 'The Astrolabe', Scientific American 230 (1974), pp 96-106; and [Waters, D. W.] The Plainspheric Astrolabe. London: 1976 
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