The astrolabe history and operation
The Astrolabe history and operation. History, as the science in charge of studying the past of mankind, testifies that, since the first written documents, the human being has been curious and concerned about knowing and deciphering the mysteries of the universe.
Try as a person who lives fully integrated in a society where technology has flooded our lives, to go somewhere lonely, away from light pollution and on a clear night look at the sky and you will probably ask yourself the same questions that our ancestors asked themselves more than 15000 years ago: What is all this I am seeing, how does it work? How does it work? Who made it?
Well, the instrument or device that comes closest to answering at least the first two questions is the Astrolabe.
What is an astrolabe?
Simply put, an astrolabe is an astronomical instrument very useful for solving problems related to weather in its broadest sense (not climatological, obviously) and the position of the sun and stars.
It is a beautiful and beautiful object that has been captivating us for more than 2000 years and provoking curiosity to unravel all its mysteries, which are those of the universe.
USES
With the astrolabe we can obtain answers to numerous astronomical problems that would take us hours and hours to answer by means of very complex mathematical calculations. It is, so to speak, the first “computer” that humans invented and is considered the “mathematical jewel of history”.
Its name comes from the Greek “aster” (astro-star) and “lambanein” whose meaning is broader: to measure, to take, to hunt, to seek, therefore, astrolabe is the one who seeks, the one who apprehends, the one who knows the stars. We can use it, therefore, as a finder or locator of stars in the sky or as a solver of questions such as what time is it, what time will it be dawn, where will the sunset be, what latitude are we at? And so on to more than 50 different questions, simply by studying the position of the stars.
But the astrolabe is not just an instrument of the past, something historical, just a curiosity. Right now it is used in many schools to introduce young students to the world of astronomy; with it they learn basic and fundamental concepts in a fun and entertaining way.
https://puntovernal.co.uk/c/orientation-and-measurement/astrolabe/