NEW! The Astrolabe Kit

The queen of early astronomical instruments, the astrolabe was prized for its beauty, mathematical sophistication, and utility in the Middle Ages and Renaissance. Combining a simple observational tool with an analog computer, it was used for time finding, surveying, navigation, star finding, and astronomical calculations in both the Latin west and the Islamic world. Chaucer wrote a book on the astrolabe for his son, and in the pre-telescopic era, the astrolabe was emblematic of the astronomer’s profession.

Now you, too, can own one of these marvelous instruments and learn how to use it. Created by Dr. Jim Lattis of the University of Wisconsin-Madison and Dr. Sara Schechner of Harvard University, this new Astrolabe Kit is based on an astrolabe made by Jean Fusoris of Paris around A.D. 1400. Fusoris was a master craftsman who made astrolabes for princes and bishops. His career was cut short when he was arrested on espionage charges. In the LTI kit, the stars have been precessed to modern positions.

The easy-to-assemble Astrolabe Kit (shown front and back above) can be used to enrich our understanding of astronomy and mathematics. Activities are drawn from the history of astronomy, navigation, and surveying to teach the important roles of astronomy and mathematics in people’s lives in earlier times. Use the Astrolabe for star calculations, measuring angles including the altitude of distant objects, finding time by the Sun and/or stars, calculating sunrise, determining latitude and more

• LT-45: Astrolabe Kit $14.95

Heifetz Planisphere with Undistorted Images of Constellations

This innovative, pre-assembled planisphere has the unique feature of showing undistorted images of the constellations along its periphery — exactly as they appear in the real sky. With its simple and understandable drawings, the constellations are very easy to recognize. The back of the planisphere features a useful technique for locating and showing the relationships between constellations by means of a series of 10 triangles. Helpful notes and instructions, as well as a list of meteor showers, are included right on the planisphere itself.

Made from a durable, long-lasting plastic with a clear window, the Heifetz Planisphere makes it possible to see all of the stars for a specific time and latitude. Ideal for teacher use and as a reusable student activity. 8 3/4” diameter, 30 degrees N. Latitude.

• LT-40: Heifetz Planisphere $10.50

Precession of the Equinoxes Classical & Historical Planisphere (Southern Hemisphere)

A special planisphere made specifically for the southern hemisphere. This planisphere created by Dr. Milton D. Heifetz, author of A Walk through the Heavens: A Guide to the Stars and Constellations and their Legends, shows which stars are visible at any hour, day or month, thousands of years in the past, the present and thousands of years into the future. This unique astronomical device illustrates precession in a way that can otherwise only be duplicated by using a computer and planetarium. It also demonstrates the change in declination over the millennia and which star will be the North Star in the future. Use the Historical Planisphere to help demonstrate the following facts: The earth orbits around the sun on a plane called the ecliptic. Because of the earth's tilt, twice per year the earth's equatorial plane intersects the ecliptic plane. That time of intersection is called the equinox. In about 130 B.C., the Greek astronomer Hipparchus noticed a change in the position of the stars. Due to a wobble of the earth as it spins on its axis, the poles of the earth trace a circle in the sky that alters the position of the north and south celestial poles and the celestial equator. As a result, the equinox slowly changes its position along the ecliptic. This is called precession of the equinoxes.10” diameter, 30-40 degrees S. Latitude.

• LT-42: Classical & Historical Planisphere $23.00