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Towards the end of the 15th century a simplified version of the astrolabe was developed in Portugal for navigational purposes. Known as the mariner's astrolabe, it was relied upon until the latter part of the 17th Century, when more specialized and accurate instruments replaced it.
The original astrolabe was a highly sophisticated manually operated astronomical computer, which was in use before ad 400. A series of plates engraved with a map of the stars, scales of degrees, and other tables could be adjusted to give (at its simplest) a complete picture of the sky, the time of day or night, the time of sunrise or sunset, and a reference to celestial positions. By ad800 astrolabes were highly developed in Islam, and came to Europe by 1200. During the 16th century they were made by various European countries, particularly in #Germany, who became the leading makers. They were expensive to make and to buy, so were the exclusive property of royalty and the very rich.
In the 19th century there was a revival of interest, and Arabic astrolabes were made in large numbers. However in order to make them affordable to the masses these were for show only, as they had no workings inside.
The original astrolabe was a highly sophisticated manually operated astronomical computer, which was in use before ad 400. A series of plates engraved with a map of the stars, scales of degrees, and other tables could be adjusted to give (at its simplest) a complete picture of the sky, the time of day or night, the time of sunrise or sunset, and a reference to celestial positions. By ad800 astrolabes were highly developed in Islam, and came to Europe by 1200. During the 16th century they were made by various European countries, particularly in #Germany, who became the leading makers. They were expensive to make and to buy, so were the exclusive property of royalty and the very rich.
In the 19th century there was a revival of interest, and Arabic astrolabes were made in large numbers. However in order to make them affordable to the masses these were for show only, as they had no workings inside.