Celestial table globe

Celestial table globe. It forms a pair with the terrestrial globe, Mercator GLB0096. Astronomical details on the sphere include a labelled magnitude table in front of Ursa Major. The Milky Way is also labelled and there are planetary symbols and data on the astrological associations of the constellations. A total of 52 stars and five star groups are named; some of the stars in the groups are labelled in Greek script. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations are drawn with an extensive nomenclature in Latin, Greek script, and often the transliteration of the Arabic names. A new style for drawing the constellation figures has been introduced with this globe. For full details about the cartography and construction of this globe please refer to the related publication.

Object Details

ID: GLB0097
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Table globe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Mercator, Gerardus
Date made: 1551
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 601 x 545 mm; Diameter of sphere: 416 mm; Diameter of Meridian Ring: 466 mm
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