Before Simeon De Witt: European Astrolabes

An observer holds an astrolabe vertically and measures the altitude of a star using a rotating set of sights. Knowing the angular height of the object, he or she then sets a rotating star map with respect to a grid of lines drawn for the observer’s latitude. This gives the position of all the other stars on the map.

De Witt’s device does not do all of this, however. Although it is similar in size to some astrolabes, it could not be used to make observations. De Witt referred to it as an astrolabe; that word was not widely used in his time and we do not know how he learned it. It is actually a star map, a part of an astronomical instrument called an astrolabe.

English Astrolabe

This astrolabe dating from about 1450 has twenty-five star pointers shaped like heads of dogs. The grid of lines below the star map is for setting star positions. It is designed for an observer standing at the latitude of London.

German Astrolabe

This 1537 instrument is by Georg Hartman of Nuremburg. It has twenty-seven star pointers, and several plates for different latitudes. The sights are attached to the back.

French Astrolabe

Some astrolabes had scales printed on paper, like this one made by Philippe Danfrie of Paris around 1600. The star map has twenty-eight flame-shaped pointers. Below it are four plates with scales for different latitudes. The sights are on the back.