Celestial table globe

Celestial table globe. Astronomical details on the sphere are a labelled magnitude table to the left of Ursa Major. The brightness of the stars are indicated by a number. The Milky Way and the Small Magellanic Cloud are labelled; the Large Cloud is drawn but not labelled. The nova in Cassiopeia is labelled and several comets are noted, for example, above Sagittarius. Below Cetus there is a cartouche with a precession table.

A total of 24 stars and six star groups are named, including Plaustrum, which is represented by an archer in a chariot drawn by horses. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations and four of the non-Ptolemaic constellations are drawn. Six of the southern constellations are drawn as well as those of Plancius. The constellations are drawn in the style of Blaeu's 680 mm celestial globe. In the southern hemisphere there are some manuscript notes added to parts which had been previously damaged.

Greuter used Dutch examples for the design of his globes, notably the 680 mm globes of Blaeu, see GLB0105 and the 265 mm globe of van de Keere and Plancius. A later edition of the gores of Greuter's globe is described under Rossi, GLB0234. For full details about the cartography and construction of this globe please refer to the related publication.

Object Details

ID: GLB0143
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Table globe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Greuter, Matthaeus; Petrus Plancius, Petrus
Date made: 1636
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Overall: 685 x 660 mm; Diameter of sphere: 488 mm; Diameter of Meridian Ring: 544 mm