What Makes Almagest?

What Makes Almagest

Almagest is an astronomical clock and tabletop planetarium. It tracks and displays the movements of the sun, moon and planets as they move across the sky.

Functioning in clock mode Almagest shows a three-dimensional view of the current position of the planets, as they appear to us on Earth.

As a reference instrument, Almagest shows the position of the planets at any time or place between 1,000 BC and 5,000 AD. Just enter any time and date from the past or the future and your chosen location on Earth; the brass wheels will turn and the planets move into position.

How, for example, were the heavens configured when Henry the Eighth stood and watched the Mary Rose sink off Spit Head on 19th July 1545? Or where in the sky could the Moon be seen, from Mission Control Houston, say, when Neil Armstrong made his giant step for mankind on the 20th July 1969? Or indeed, in Rome, when Julius Caesar was assassinated on the Ides of March 44 BC?

Run your mouse over the figure below to discover the functions of the various parts of the instrument.

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The following paragraphs describe the various parts of Almagest

THE EARTH is represented by a fixed globe around which the planets rotate. Almagest is not intended as a view of the Solar System but is a representation of the appearance of 'the heavens' as viewed by someone on Earth.

THE SUN. Almagest faithfully and accurately charts the daily rising and setting of the Sun. Consult Almagest at dawn and you will witness the Sun slowly rise above the horizon. Conversely at dusk you will see the Sun slowly set.

THE MOON. Almagest demonstrates the movements of the Moon rotating around the Earth and you will notice how its position relative to the Sun changes in monthly cycles.

THE PLANETS. Almagest shows the five visible planets and charts their progress as they wander across the sky. You will observe how they all gradually change their positions relative to the Sun and to each other.

THE ZODIAC RING represents the background of stars through which the Moon and planets appear to travel (the Sun too but this has to be deduced as the Sun and stars are not visible at the same time).

HORIZON PLATE. At any one time six of the signs of the Zodiac are hidden beneath a brass plate which is how Almagest demonstrates that half the starry firmament is below the horizon.

CONTROL BOX. Almagest will show you the configuration of the Heavens at any time or place between 1,000 BC and 5,000 AD. Just set the date, the latitude and the longitude and Almagest will display the exact position of the Sun, Moon and planets in the sky.

DATA SCREEN. For those who want more detailed information about the position of the planets. Just input your time and space data and the screen will display the exact ecliptic longitude and latitude of each planet as well as its altitude and azimuth.