Celestial table globe

Celestial table globe. Astronomical details on the sphere are almost the same as Doppelmayr GLB0076. The only differences being that the sphere is thickly varnished, and the brass meridian ring is graduated in an amateurish way. The hour circle and pointer are also missing. There is a labelled magnitude table below Crater. The Milky Way is labelled and the Magellanic Clouds are depicted but not labelled. A total of 16 stars and four star groups are named. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations and four of the non-Ptolemaic constellations are drawn.

Three of the southern constellations are drawn, as well as those of Plancius and all those of Hevelius. However, not all the constellations are labelled. For full details about the cartography and construction of this globe please refer to the related publication.

Object Details

ID: GLB0087
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Table globe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Doppelmayr, Johann Gabriel
Date made: 1730
People: Petrus Plancius, Petrus
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 310 x 303 mm; Diameter of sphere: 200 mm; Diameter of Meridian Ring: 216 mm