Astronomical sphere

“Armillary Sphere, an instrument used in astronomy. In its simplest form, consisting of a ring fixed in the plane of the equator, the armilla is one of the most ancient of astronomical instruments. Slightly developed, it was crossed by another ring fixed in the plane of the meridian.” — The Encyclopedia Britannica, 1910

In this article, we'll explore how the armillary sphere works, what the rings on it show, and how it helps visualize the movement of the Sun on the celestial sphere.

For background see: bibliodyssey.blogspot.com/2010/11/celestial-mechanics.html

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Armillary sphere

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Richard Glynne (18th century) Armillary sphere-orrery, ca. 1720 This instrument is a combination of an armillary sphere and a new kind of planetarium called an orrery. It demonstrates the structure of the Copernican universe.

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