Model of objects in the sky consisting of a framework of rings
Jost Bürgi and Antonius Eisenhoit: Armillary sphere with astronomical clock, made in 1585 in Kassel, now at Nordiska Museet in Stockholm
An armillary sphere (variations are known as spherical astrolabe, armilla, or armil) is a model of objects in the sky (on the celestial sphere), consisting of a spherical framework of rings, centered on Earth or the Sun, that represent lines of celestial longitude and latitude and other astronomically important features, such as the ecliptic. As such, it differs from a celestial globe, which is a smooth sphere whose principal purpose is to map the constellations. It was invented separately, in ancient China possibly as early as the 4th century BC and ancient Greece during the 3rd century BC, with later uses in the Islamic world and Medieval Europe.
With the Earth as center, an armillary sphere is known as Ptolemaic. With the Sun as center, it is known as Copernican.[1]
The flag of Portugal features an armillary sphere. The armillary sphere is also featured in Portuguese heraldry, associated with the Portuguese discoveries during the Age of Exploration. Manuel I of Portugal, for example, took it as one of his symbols where it appeared on his standard, and on early Chinese export ceramics made for the Portuguese court. In the flag of the Empire of Brazil, the armillary sphere is also featured.
The Beijing Capital International Airport Terminal 3 features a large armillary sphere metal sculpture as an exhibit of Chinese inventions for international and domestic visitors.
Chinese Armillary sphere at Beijing Capital International Airport 紫薇辰恆 Ziwei Chenheng Aug-2010
^One or more of the preceding sentences incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Huggins, Margaret Lindsay (1911). "Armilla". In Chisholm, Hugh (ed.). Encyclopædia Britannica. Vol. 2 (11th ed.). Cambridge University Press. pp. 575–576.
An armillarysphere (variations are known as spherical astrolabe, armilla, or armil) is a model of objects in the sky (on the celestial sphere), consisting...
the armillarysphere but has fewer parts. With only two sets of coordinates, this instrument has a larger range and vision than the armillaryspheres. The...
fly. The lesser version of the national coat of arms of Portugal (armillarysphere and Portuguese shield) is centered over the colour boundary at equal...
Liang Lingzan in 725 AD to operate a water-powered armillarysphere, although Su's armillarysphere was the first to be provided with a mechanical clock...
how the stars should be marked. An armillarysphere had similar applications. No early Islamic armillaryspheres survive, but several treatises on "the...
several of his inventions. He invented the world's first water-powered armillarysphere to assist astronomical observation; improved the inflow water clock...
mathematics and astronomy, reintroducing to Western Christendom the abacus, armillarysphere, and water organ, which had been lost to Latin Europe since the fall...
to Brazil. The new flag had a white field with a golden armillarysphere. The armillarysphere had served as the personal emblem of King Manuel I of Portugal...
arms placed over a golden armillarysphere. The basic version consists of only the Portuguese shield over the armillarysphere. This version was intended...
arm) The armillarysphere has been an important element of Portuguese heraldry since the reign of King Manuel I of Portugal. The armillarysphere became...
Nations, private sponsors and artists. The Celestial Sphere (also known as the ArmillarySphere) in the Ariana Park of the Palais des Nations is the best-known...
the escapement in 723 (or 725) to the workings of a water-powered armillarysphere and clock drive, which was the world's first clockwork escapement....
In some cases, the crossed arches might relate this object to an armillarysphere representing the cosmic orb, as seems to happen with the crown of Pedro...
globes and the armillarysphere was composed between 1380 and 1460 CE by Parameśvara. On the subject of the usage of the armillarysphere in India, Ōhashi...
modern planisphere. The term planisphere contrasts with armillarysphere, where the celestial sphere is represented by a three-dimensional framework of rings...
information. The Unisphere, the largest geographical globe. Example of an Armillarysphere. Globe of the Moon. Globe used as a decorative architectural element...
spherical astrolabe was a variation of both the astrolabe and the armillarysphere, invented during the Middle Ages by astronomers and inventors in the...
religious depictions. Meanwhile, the floor itself offers depictions of the armillarysphere of the Portuguese discoveries and the Order of Christ Cross, surrounded...
world, and possibly the invention of the astrolabe, as well as of the armillarysphere that he may have used in creating the star catalogue. Hipparchus is...
heavenly sphere rotates The Earth is spherical The Earth is the center of the cosmos "the Earth in size and distance has the ratio of a point to the sphere of...
from Rheims described Gerbert's contributions in reintroducing the armillarysphere that was lost to European science after the Greco-Roman era; from Richer's...
To aid his work in astronomy, Shen Kuo made improved designs of the armillarysphere, gnomon, sighting tube, and invented a new type of inflow water clock...
armilar (armillarysphere) is also a charge that frequently appears in Portuguese heraldry, usually represented in Or. The armillarysphere was granted...
on bronze tortoises, made in 1608 by the sculptor Giambologna. An armillarysphere (on the left) and an astronomical quadrant with gnomon (on the right)...
painting has rings, which give it an appearance similar to that of an armillarysphere. The demonstration was thereby able to depict eclipses. To put this...
(Portuguese: Museu de Arte Popular), and demarcated by stone pedestals with armillaryspheres. Opposite the large square, and across the Avenida da Índia-Avenida...
at 28 Irongate, Derby, is commemorated with a representation of an armillarysphere on the pavement nearby. Joseph Wright was buried in the grounds of...
of the 12 sections corresponds to a house in the zodiac. Armillarysphere Celestial sphere De sphaera mundi Savage-Smith 1985, p. 3. Borchert, Donald...
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