What can an astrolabe be compared to?

Answer 1

Many instruments have been called 'astrolabes' through the centuries. The name comes from the Greek meaning 'star taker'. The instrument that is most commonly referred to by the name astrolabe is more properly called a planispheric astrolabe. It's an instrument that is essentially a computer -- or maybe more accurately a circular slide rule -- that displays the sky.

The astrolabe came in many different forms with the earliest existing examples coming from about the year 1000, though various descriptions exist that suggest they have existed much longer. A typical model would have a series of plates that each represent a single latitude. The plate shows the horizon and has markings to show how high something is above the horizon and it's position east and west (the azimuth). This is overlaid by a 'rete' (Latin for 'net') that has pointers for the positions of stars. By positioning a given star (or sun) at it's observed position. The astrolabe is then set for the condition of the sky at the time of the observation. It doesn't have the ability to show where the planets are, however. The position of the sun can be determined by from a calendar scale found on the back and then set with a rule on the front.

A properly set astrolabe can tell time (day or night), sunrise, sunset, twilight, astrological measurements, star rise & set times, among other readings. It can also be used for some surveying measurements such as measuring the height of a structure. Islamic astrolabes frequently had markings to determine prayer times and the direction to Mecca.

For detailed information on astrolabes, check out Jim Morrison's astrolabe site in the related links.

Answer 2

An astrolabe can be compared to a simplified version of a sextant. Both tools are used for celestial navigation to determine the position of objects in the sky, but an astrolabe is generally less precise and has a more limited range of measurements compared to a sextant.

Answer 3

An astrolabe is an historical astronomical instrument used by astronomers, navigators, and astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the Sun, Moon, planets, and stars; determining local time given local latitude and vice-versa; surveying; triangulation; and to cast horoscopes. They were used inClassical Antiquity and through the Islamic Golden Age and the European Middle Ages andRenaissance for all these purposes. In the Islamic world, they were also used to calculate the Qibla and to find the times for Salah, prayers.

The astrolabe is an instrument used to predict astronomical features. It is difficult to use at sea however, and its modern successor is the sextant.

Answer 4

The astrolabe helped magellan because its a sailing tool. im not exactly sure, but im pretty sure it tells you what lattitude your at, either way it helped him circumnavigate the world, proving that it was round.

Answer 5

An astrolabe is a primitive angle-measuring tool. It can be used to - very in-exactly! - measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body like the Sun, Moon or Polaris in order to calculate your position.

Medieval gunners used the astrolabe to calculate the height of towers and buildings, in order to more accurately aim their cannons.

Answer 6

(n.) a tool that helped sailors use the sun and stars to find their location

Answer 7

A possible reason the astrolabe was invented was as a means to help predict the positions of the sun and stars for Astrology, which was thought to govern the lives of men.

Answer 8

An astrolabe was traditionally used to show the locations of the sun, the moon, and other parts of the universe. It is attributed to an inventor named Hipparchus, who lived in Greece.

Answer 9

An astrolabe is a piece of specialized equipment that was used by astronomers to locate and predict the position of major celestial beings such as the moon, stars, and planets.

Answer 10

An astrolabe is used to measure angles of the stars above the horizon. In a primitive sort of way, you might compare it to a sextant.