ASTROLABE - Made Using Paper (medieval Astronomical Instrument)

An astrolabe is an elaborate inclinometer, and can be considered an analog calculator capable of working out several different kinds of problems in astronomy

Supplies

Templates

glue

scissors

nut and bolt

Step 1: PRINT THE TEMPLATES.

To make the astrolabe, you have to print some templates on A4 sheets.

The PDF link to the templates is:

https://in-the-sky.org/astrolabe/pdfs/astrolabe_15N_en_full.pdf

Step 2: STICK THE TEMPLATES ONTO THIN CARD AND CUT THEM

Stick the template onto thin card and cut out the front and back sides of the mother, and glue them back to back. You may wish to sandwich a piece of cardboard between them to make your astrolabe more rigid.

Repeat the same for the rule,rete and the alidade(stick them into thin card and cut it out).

Step 3: Assemble All the Parts Together.

Now all of the parts of the astrolabe need to be fixed together with a nut and boltor even a split fastener.

All of the components have small circular holes marked, which you should cut out.

Once all the holes are made, slide a bolt or a split-pin fastener through the rule, rete, mother and alidade of the astrolabe in turn, and fold the split pins back to fasten the astrolabe together. Ensure that the central hole is big enough that the alidade, rete and rule can turn freely.

Your astrolabe is now ready for use.

Step 4: TEST.

The astrolabe has a ton of uses but the most common one is to find the altitude of stars .

Pick up the astrolabe and aim the alidade towards the sun. The alidade is the part that moves on the outside of the astrolabe. Keep adjusting the alidade until the sun is blocked by the flaps on the alidade.

Keep the device pointing at the sun and then read the altitude where it’s written in degrees on the side of the device. The point to read is where the rule crosses across the astrolabe. The rule is the moving part on the inside surface of the astrolabe. It may be easier to have someone else read the measurement so you can keep the device steady.

Here at my house ,when i tested the astrolabe, the altitude of the sun was 70 degrees.

Thank you for viewing my instructable.