An astrolabe in pieces
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Subtitle
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astronomy in the service of Islam
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Performing daily prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. The times are defined by astronomical phenomena such as dawn and by shadow lengths. The astrolabe was adapted to determine these times in different places, throughout the year. Prayer should be towards the Ka'aba in Mecca. Before the era of compasses (and now smartphone apps), astronomers devised ingenious graphs which allowed the qibla to be determined by observing the sun. One such graph can be found on the reverse of an astrolabe on display in Lines of Faith.
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Heavenly Beauty
Beautiful design
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
The maker has covered nearly every surface with rich decoration.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
A single astrolabe could be worked on by many different makers, each bringing their own expertise to the exquisitely crafted object. Some were signed not only by the maker but also by a calligrapher, and even occasionally by an astronomer, to certify the highest quality of both script and design. One of the most celebrated astrolabe makers was Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi. The rich surface decoration of his astrolabe is matched by the elegance and balance of its design. The inset silver on one of its plates underlines the high status of its first owner.
Subtitle
Sign your name
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
The maker added his signature on the back of the astrolabe.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Hunter's astrolabe
Astrolabe ('Hunter's astrolabe') Persian, 1600s Inv. 54607
Title
A scene probably designed to reflect the hobbies of its wealthy owner
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Circles and Stars
View from outer space
Celestial Globe Indo-Persian?, c. 1700? Inv. 47262
Celestial globes look back at the Earth from outside the fixed stars.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
In the forms of the objects in Lines of Faith we can see the grand made miniature. Can you spot the equator and the ecliptic in these objects? The latter carries the names of the zodiac signs.
Different retes are shown to explore the different styles that exist across different astrolabe makers and culture. The rete’s framework exists only to join together the star pointers and ecliptic circle, so its design is a matter of taste rather than astronomical necessity.
Subtitle
In the name of Allah
Astrolabe by Qassim `Ali Qa'inbi, Persian, 1682 Inv. 45509
The rete design includes an invocation from the Qu'ran
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Clean and simple
Astrolabe by `Abdi, Turkish, 1713/14 Inv. 39955
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The rete reflects the elegant minimalism Turkish astrolabe design.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
True north
Astrolabe Indo-Persian, 1600s Inv. 33411
Title
This teaching astrolabe includes a plate for 90 degrees:the North Pole.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy.
Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Template
Astrolabe Template Persian, 1700s Inv. 52332
Wooden astrolabe template with brass blank astrolabe in the recess.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy.
Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy.
Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy.
Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy.
Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astronomy in the service of Islam
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Performing daily prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. The times are defined by astronomical phenomena such as dawn and by shadow lengths. The astrolabe was adapted to determine these times in different places, throughout the year.
Prayer should be towards the Ka'aba in Mecca. Before the era of compasses (and now smartphone apps), astronomers devised ingenious graphs which allowed the qibla to be determined by observing the sun. One such graph can be found on the reverse of an astrolabe on display in Lines of Faith.
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
An astrolabe in pieces
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
An astrolabe in pieces
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Lines of Faith: An astrolabe in pieces
History of Science M
Created on October 11, 2025
Start designing with a free template
Discover more than 1500 professional designs like these:
View
3D Corporate Reporting
View
Higher Education Microsite
View
Basic Shapes Microsite
View
Basic Interactive Microsite
View
Microsite Vibrant Travel Guide
View
Tourism Guide Microsite
View
Online Product Catalog
Explore all templates
Transcript
An astrolabe in pieces
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Subtitle
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astronomy in the service of Islam
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Performing daily prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. The times are defined by astronomical phenomena such as dawn and by shadow lengths. The astrolabe was adapted to determine these times in different places, throughout the year. Prayer should be towards the Ka'aba in Mecca. Before the era of compasses (and now smartphone apps), astronomers devised ingenious graphs which allowed the qibla to be determined by observing the sun. One such graph can be found on the reverse of an astrolabe on display in Lines of Faith.
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Heavenly Beauty
Beautiful design
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
The maker has covered nearly every surface with rich decoration.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
A single astrolabe could be worked on by many different makers, each bringing their own expertise to the exquisitely crafted object. Some were signed not only by the maker but also by a calligrapher, and even occasionally by an astronomer, to certify the highest quality of both script and design. One of the most celebrated astrolabe makers was Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi. The rich surface decoration of his astrolabe is matched by the elegance and balance of its design. The inset silver on one of its plates underlines the high status of its first owner.
Subtitle
Sign your name
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
The maker added his signature on the back of the astrolabe.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Hunter's astrolabe
Astrolabe ('Hunter's astrolabe') Persian, 1600s Inv. 54607
Title
A scene probably designed to reflect the hobbies of its wealthy owner
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Circles and Stars
View from outer space
Celestial Globe Indo-Persian?, c. 1700? Inv. 47262
Celestial globes look back at the Earth from outside the fixed stars.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
In the forms of the objects in Lines of Faith we can see the grand made miniature. Can you spot the equator and the ecliptic in these objects? The latter carries the names of the zodiac signs. Different retes are shown to explore the different styles that exist across different astrolabe makers and culture. The rete’s framework exists only to join together the star pointers and ecliptic circle, so its design is a matter of taste rather than astronomical necessity.
Subtitle
In the name of Allah
Astrolabe by Qassim `Ali Qa'inbi, Persian, 1682 Inv. 45509
The rete design includes an invocation from the Qu'ran
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Clean and simple
Astrolabe by `Abdi, Turkish, 1713/14 Inv. 39955
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The rete reflects the elegant minimalism Turkish astrolabe design.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
True north
Astrolabe Indo-Persian, 1600s Inv. 33411
Title
This teaching astrolabe includes a plate for 90 degrees:the North Pole.
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy. Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Template
Astrolabe Template Persian, 1700s Inv. 52332
Wooden astrolabe template with brass blank astrolabe in the recess.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy. Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy. Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy. Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
The Mindful Hand
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
The expertise to cut, file and engrave brass by hand required discipline and practice. As well as these varied practical skills, astrolabe makers also needed to have a thorough understanding geometry and astronomy. Explore the objects that help us understand how these amazing objects were created.
Subtitle
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Call to prayer
Astrolabe Unsigned, North African, Early 1700s? Inv. 34314
Astronomy in the service of Islam
Astrolabe used to calculate the hour of prayer in the Grand Mosque in Tangier, Morocco.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Performing daily prayers is one of the five pillars of Islam. The times are defined by astronomical phenomena such as dawn and by shadow lengths. The astrolabe was adapted to determine these times in different places, throughout the year. Prayer should be towards the Ka'aba in Mecca. Before the era of compasses (and now smartphone apps), astronomers devised ingenious graphs which allowed the qibla to be determined by observing the sun. One such graph can be found on the reverse of an astrolabe on display in Lines of Faith.
Qibla
Qibla Indicator, 1700s or 1800s Inv. 43695
Muslims use qibla indicators to find the direction of the Ka'aba in Mecca for daily prayers.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Finding Mecca
Astrolabe by Muhammad Mahdi al-khadim al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1650Inv. 41763
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Graph on an astrolabe used to find the direction of Mecca.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
An astrolabe in pieces
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Alidade
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
An astrolabe in pieces
For taking observations, and measurements, like the height of stars or the sun in the sky.
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Astrolabes typically have several parts. On the back is the alidade, a ruler with sights for taking observations. On the front, the delicate framework of the rete rotates over a stack of circular plates hidden away inside the instrument’s body. The rete is celestial: it captures the sun and stars. The plates are terrestrial: each is for a specific latitude. To swap out the plates and bring a different one to the top is to travel to a new place.
Rete
Astrolabe by Muhammad ibn Sa`id as-Sabban, Guadalajara, 1081/2Inv. 52473
Map of the sun and stars with pointers showing the brightest stars. Rete is the Latin word for "net".
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle
Plate
Astrolabeby Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, Persian, c. 1660 Inv. 46886
Represents our latitude (position on Earth north or south of the equator).
Title
Use this side to give more information about a topic.
Subtitle