Celestial clockwork globe

Celestial clockwork globe. Astronomical details on the sphere include stars indicated by four different symbols, but there is no magnitude table. The Milky Way is drawn but not labelled. The stars are indicated by four different symbols and two star groups are represented. A total of two stars and two star groups are named. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations and the non-Ptolemaic constellation, Antinous, are drawn.

The style of the constellations drawn include Bootes depicted with hunting dogs, and there is a male figure at the end of Eridanus. In addition, the shape of the club of Orion, Crater and Argo is in the style of Oterschaden. The gores of either Oterschaden or of Nicolai must have served as a model for engraving the constellation figures for this globe.

The clockwork mechansim allows the globe to revolve at sidereal time about the polar axis of the clockwork, driven from within the globe by a balance-controlled movement mounted on this axis. For full details about the cartography and construction of this clockwork globe please refer to the related publication, 'Globes at Greenwich'.

Object Details

ID: GLB0174
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Clockwork globe
Display location: Not on display
Creator: III, Isaac Habrecht
Date made: 1646
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Caird Collection
Measurements: Diameter of sphere: 190 mm;Overall: 18 1/2 in x 11 5/8 in x 6.7 kg