Terrestrial and celestial collapsible globes and orrery set

Terrestrial and celestial collapsible globes and orrery set. Geographical details on the terrestrial gores include simple outlines of the continents. Tasmania is labelled '1.s van Diemen' and depicted as an island. Ten oceans are named. Astronomical details on the celestial gores show only the principle stars, and they are connected by dotted lines. There is a magnitude table, which is labelled 'Estrellas'. The Milky Way is labelled, and 20 stars and six star groups are named. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations and four of the non-Ptolemaic constellations are drawn. Ten of the twelve southern constellations of Plancius are drawn as well as five of Hevelius and one of Lacaille.

The map itself is geocentric but the signs of the zodiac are ordered in globe view or external. The use of geographical co-ordinates east and west on the celestial globe, as well as the incorrect ordering of the signs of the zodiac along the ecliptic, shows that the maker was not familiar with the most basic astronomical concepts involved in the construction of celestial globes.

The instructions for use are printed on the cardboard folder. It must have been a very confusing globe indeed to the schoolchildren for whom this set was intended. The orrery is decorated with fixed stars and a tailed comet. The overall measurement is for the set when it is collapsed inside its folder. For full details about the construction and cartography of this globe and orrery set please refer to the related publication.

Object Details

ID: GLB0235
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments; Charts and maps
Type: Collapsible globes and orrery set
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Lopez, Pedro Martin de
Date made: circa 1850
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 150 x 210 mm
Parts: Terrestrial and celestial collapsible globes and orrery set
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