
So, How to Build an Astrolabe: Mater – Back Plate
This week, build an astrolabe’s various calendars engraved on the back of the astrolabe
A DIY Guide to Science History
A DIY Guide to Science History

This week, build an astrolabe’s various calendars engraved on the back of the astrolabe

This week, build an astrolabe’s main body—mater—with common rings for the front outer limb

This week, build an astrolabe’s tympan—latitude—plate to represent the arcs for Unequal Hours

This week, build an astrolabe’s tympan—latitude—plate to represent the Azimuth arcs

This week, build an astrolabe’s tympan—latitude—plate to represent the Horizon, Almucantar, and Twilight arcs

This week, build an astrolabe’s tympan—latitude—plate to represent the Equator, Tropic of Capricorn, and Tropic of Cancer

This week, break apart an astrolabe to begin to understand this strange ancient device

This week, decode an ancient and uncommon European numeral system that uses overlapping glyphs

This week, find your latitude on land, boat, or hyper-futuristic train

This week, (*tap tap*) communicate with a simple Morse Code-like cipher by tapping