Adler Planetarium, Chicago, IL

Research & Collections

Historic Scientific Instruments Collection: A Selection

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Armillary Spheres

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Navigational Instruments

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Navigational Instruments

A-275. The mariner's astrolabe was once a common navigational instrument, used to measure the altitude of the sun or a star. It was usually made of thick metal and pierced with large openings, for stability while making observations in the wind. This Portuguese instrument is dated 1616, and is one of only a few dozen in the world that have survived (apparently most were discarded, or lost at sea).

A-249. This sextant, signed "B. Biggs, Cardiff," was made in Cardiff, New York, in the early 19th century.

The Adler has a major collection of navigational instruments, dating from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries. The collection is particularly strong in octants, sextants, and quadrants.


		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 Navigational Instruments A-275. The mariner's astrolabe was once a common navigational instrument, used to measure the altitude of the sun or a star. It was usually made of thick metal and pierced with large openings, for stability while making observations in the wind. This Portuguese instrument is dated 1616, and is one of only a few dozen in the world that have survived (apparently most were discarded, or lost at sea). A-249. This sextant, signed "B. Biggs, Cardiff," was made in Cardiff, New York, in the early 19th century. The Adler has a major collection of navigational instruments, dating from the sixteenth through the twentieth centuries. The collection is particularly strong in octants, sextants, and quadrants.