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Astronomical Compendium, by Willem Sneewins, Delft, c. 1709

Inventory Number 36000

Acknowledgement: © History of Science Museum, University of Oxford, inv.36000

Item type
Object
Provenance
Presented to the University by Lewis Evans with his collection.
Primary inscriptions
". W . SNEEWINS . * . FECIT . DELFT ." on hour ring of horizontal dial and "1709" on tables of Easter dates and epacts inside lid.
Physical material
Brass
Object type
Compendium
Dimensions
Height: 118mm Width: 118mm
Inventory No
36000
Accession Number
1924-0/part

Description

Square base with dialling quadrant on underside and compass on upperside within a protracting scale of degrees. Compass box has a compass and wind rose and an hour ring for a horizontal dial with a folding gnomon. On the same hinge is an equinoctial dial with a semicircular support for the hour ring and a notch for the gnomon and latitude quadrant (plumb bob missing). There is a lid fitting over the compass which has a nocturnal and zodiac-calendar-declination scale on the outer face and a lunar volvelle and calendrical tables on the inside. The nocturnal index also has sights and can be used for altitude measurement with the help of the suspension ring.

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