VETUS UNIVERSAL QUADRANT
The Vetus universal quadrant was a very popular instrument for several centuries, as it was relatively easy to use and was not very expensive. It consists of a quarter of a circle (90º), usually made of brass or wood.
There were many types with specific applications, initially with the simple application of measuring angles or heights of stars, buildings, mountains.
They were equipped with two viewfinders along one of their edges, a weight attached to a rope and an engraved scale from 0 to 90º with which to make the measurements. With the angle obtained, once the object had been measured, specific questions of navigation, artillery, architecture, etc. were resolved.
The quadrant that Antiquus presents is one of the so-called timetables. Its main use is to find out the time (unequal hours) using the position of the Sun, but it has other applications
OUR QUADRANT
This type of quadrant called quadrans vetus (old quadrant) is of Islamic origin and was introduced in Europe in the late Middle Ages, achieving great popularity for several centuries.
It also consists of a shadow square and on its back a universal hour converter original from the 16th century.
A string holds a weight that will act as a plumb line, suspended from a hole located in the upper angle of the instrument. A small piece called a pearl slides along the string.
The calendar moves along the arc of the instrument in order to locate it at the exact latitude of the observer. It is, therefore, an instrument that, although not universal, does record a wide range of latitudes corresponding to the northern hemisphere.
On the left side is the scale with the solar declination throughout a full year.
USE
With our quadrant we can find out the following data:
-Maximum height of the sun for that day when passing through the meridian of the place
-Declination of the sun for that day
-Latitude of the place where we are
-hours passed since sunrise (unequal hours)
It´s made of an alloy called Zamak that is very hard and resistant to changes in temperature and humidity and does not require any type of maintenance and is presented in a beautiful case and includes a wooden stand for displaying the instrument and a complete booklet with instructions for its use.
It is a perfect gift for those curious and intelligent people who love astronomy and science.
VAT INCLUDED
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Quadrant_(instrument)
