The armillary sphere, the 2nd issue of the «Historic Instruments series», is an early marvel of astronomical ingenuity, which serves as a captivating window to the celestial realms.
In its complex form, this remarkable device elegantly captures the grand circles of the heavens—the horizon, meridian, Equator, tropics, polar circles, and an encircling ecliptic hoop. With the Earth at its center, this celestial globe is equipped with degrees for angular measurements.
During the 17th and 18th centuries, such splendid contraptions graced the parlours of academics, suspended in the air, perched upon ornate stands, or clutched by an elegant handle.
The armillary sphere was allegedly invented separately in ancient China during the 4th century BC and ancient Greece during the 3rd century BC.
