Armillary sphere

device · 200 BC · Ancient world

A model of the celestial sphere made of rings.

What it is made of

• Armillary rings — has part. The equator, ecliptic and meridian.
• Wooden stand — has part. A support with a horizon.
• Axle — has part. The celestial axis.

Principles and materials it uses

• Bronze — is made of. Armillary spheres are bronze rings.
• Euclidean geometry — uses. The rings model the celestial circles.

Things built in a similar way

• Astrolabe — works like. Three-dimensional and flat models of the celestial sphere.
• Orrery — works like. Both are mechanical models of the sky: the armillary sphere shows celestial circles, the orrery the planets' motion.

Take Armillary sphere apart

Open Evothings