Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Research & Collections

Historic Scientific Instruments Collection: A Selection

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Armillary Spheres

Astrolabes

Celestial Globes

The Dearborn Telescope

The Mensing Collection

Navigational Instruments

Orreries

Sundials

Surveying Instruments

Telescopes

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Celestial Globes

Celestial Globes of the heavens represent the positions of stars on the celestial sphere, and usually bear fanciful depictions of the constellations.

M-440. Magnificent celestial globe, 27 inches in diameter and mounted on an elaborate and not particularly attractive base. The globe was made in the 1630s by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, based on the star positions ascertained by Tycho Brahe. It was said to have come from the house of the artist Peter Paul Rubens. (We do not necessarily believe this.)

W-274. A small (2 3/4-inch diameter) pocket globe made by J.B. Homann around 1715. Within the outer case is a map of the heavens and a terrestrial globe. The terrestrial globe itself opens to reveal a tiny armillary sphere (not shown).


		Research & Collections Historic Scientific Instruments Collection: A Selection Back to the Collections main page Armillary Spheres Astrolabes Celestial Globes The Dearborn Telescope The Mensing Collection Navigational Instruments Orreries Sundials Surveying Instruments Telescopes Search our Collections Database Celestial Globes Celestial Globes of the heavens represent the positions of stars on the celestial sphere, and usually bear fanciful depictions of the constellations. M-440. Magnificent celestial globe, 27 inches in diameter and mounted on an elaborate and not particularly attractive base. The globe was made in the 1630s by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, based on the star positions ascertained by Tycho Brahe. It was said to have come from the house of the artist Peter Paul Rubens. (We do not necessarily believe this.) W-274. A small (2 3/4-inch diameter) pocket globe made by J.B. Homann around 1715. Within the outer case is a map of the heavens and a terrestrial globe. The terrestrial globe itself opens to reveal a tiny armillary sphere (not shown).