Celestial globe

The making of Chinese celestial instruments began in the Yuan Dynasty ^[1] , due to The western regions astronomer Zamaruddin Created by the Yuan court, the spherical surface reflects the distribution of sea and land on the earth's surface, which belongs to the original drawing method. Wanli of Ming During a certain age Italy After the missionary Matteo Ricci came to China, he taught to China Ancient Greek the Earth circle theory He personally made the Celestial sphere Instrument and wrote the book Universal map of the world ". Influenced by it, in the thirty-first year of Wanli in the Ming Dynasty (1603), scholar Li Zhizao made a celestial sphere instrument. About the third year of Chongzhen (1630), the court also made a celestial globe instrument. These are plotted on the celestial sphere Weft and longitude net Expanded China's previous celestial sphere only 27 places Observation point Latitude, including the equator, The Tropic of Cancer The entire Earth latitude of the north and south polar circles also made up for the gap that our country did not know longitude before, and marked the five continents, so that people in the current dynasty can understand the new knowledge of Western astronomical discoveries.

After the Ming, the early Qing Dynasty Kangxi The emperor ordered the missionaries in the court and some court officials to make this celestial globe. The spherical image, scale and related text description generally followed Matteo Ricci's drawing method. The making of this instrument reflects in one way" Earth circle theory The theory was consolidated in China, which also reflected China's attitude towards the world at that time Astronomical knowledge The level of awareness. Qing Dynasty, European clocks were introduced into China, scientists in the middle of the Qing Dynasty Qi Yanhuai By imitating its structure and using a clockwork as power, an automatic newsprint engraving was made Timing instrument . Constellations are cast on the outer copper balls. Like the copper kettle drip, the celestial globe embodies the characteristics of ancient China's use of celestial timing, but the manufacture of the celestial globe has been influenced by the manufacture of European watches. ^[2]

The only things on sale today are sphere Uei Hoa globe External representation seleno , Mars and Venus The instrument. Made of transparent plastic, the logo is complete, and the interior is Earth model It is easy to understand the concept of celestial sphere. It is suitable for astronomy and geography teaching in universities and middle schools. Suitable for navigation and scientific research. Using it to describe the coordinates of the celestial sphere, The apparent motion of celestial bodies And solve some practical astronomical problems.

A model of the celestial sphere, used in navigation, Astronomy teaching And the popularization of astronomical knowledge of the auxiliary instruments, people use it to express the various coordinates of the celestial sphere, the apparent motion of celestial bodies and solve some practical astronomical problems. The sphere is painted with the positions of bright stars, Star name Constellations and several Celestial coordinate system The sign and the degree. The stars on the celestial sphere are the opposite of those seen from the sky, because the celestial sphere is viewed from outside, but this has no effect on understanding the celestial phenomena. There's a metal shaft running through it Centre of sphere , represents axis The two ends of the axis are the North Pole of the celestial sphere and The South Pole . The celestial sphere rotates around its axis. The axis is mounted on a metal circle, which is represented by the metal circle that supports the axis meridian (see celestial coordinate system), place the celestial sphere instrument in one Seat frame Up, the horizontal ring in the frame represents horizon . User can refer to Geographical latitude in meridian Upper regulation Celestial pole Height, and can make the celestial sphere around Polar axis To see what the sky looks like at different latitudes, at different dates, at different times, and at a particular celestial body Longitude of the horizon ( Azimuth Angle ) and Horizontal latitude (Horizon height). It can also show the time and direction of the sun on a given day, the path through the sky, Time of transit Height and length of day and night. The celestial globe is of great practical value. On display in China The ancient Beijing Observatory There is a Qing Dynasty copper celestial sphere instrument, cast in 1673, with a diameter of 2 meters, and more than 1,000 stars on the ball, which is divided into three walls and twenty-eight stars. The diameter of the commonly used celestial sphere instrument is about 30 cm.

If an astrograph is made very accurately it can't deformably From any Angle to show the starry sky as one of the same size globe Taken together, it's a very precise and accurate calculating instrument that dates back to ancient celestial spheres and globes, Ptolemy Described the method of making the celestial globe. In the late Middle Ages, celestial instruments were very popular. Later celestial instruments also paid great attention to its artistic expression. Many court astronomers made celestial instruments for their employers. Some celestial instruments combine in Solar system instrument In, with mechanical drive. National Library of Austria Has the largest collection of celestial instruments in the world.

In the sun Earth rotation And the revolution causes the solar regions of the Earth to move. This move generates a lot Astronomical phenomenon . These phenomena are so important to human survival. People need to know about it to know about it, to know about these phenomena. According to these needs, the astrosphere instrument was developed. It simulates the movement of sunlight regions on the Earth's surface due to the Earth's rotation and revolution. This movement produces astronomical information - day, night, sunrise, sunset, solar terms (seasons), Polar day Region, Polar night Region, location of direct sunlight, Local time , Universal time Time difference, etc. This information is what people need to know in their daily life. In the past, people used clocks, celestial instruments, or maps calendar The comprehensive use was obtained Partial information However, information such as the time of sunrise and sunset in different regions, the length of day and night that changes with the solar terms (seasons), and the Angle of sunshine is still not available, and can only be measured or asked by the observatory. The astrosphere gives this information. There are actual day and night changes on the Earth, but the celestial sphere does not show such information, and the time of sunrise and sunset can only be measured or asked observatory . The astrosphere gives you this information, so you can get it in your hotel, home or office. In the past, the solar terms (seasons) were given by the calendar, and the astronomical celestial globe not only gave the solar terms (seasons) but also gave the sunrise and sunset time and the length of day and night in the corresponding regions, and gave the latitude where the direct sun is located. The polar day and night regions were previously mentioned only when studying geography or traveling to high latitudes in the summer. The astronomical telescope gives the information of polar day and polar night at any time, which has great practical significance for the unprecedented development of tourism today. People know about polar day and polar night regions before they travel to high latitudes. The sun used to shine only in the south The Tropic of Cancer People in between have experienced, Guangzhou There is also a building measuring the sun to the Tropic of Cancer. With the astronomical globe instrument people can understand the meaning of the direct point of the sun through it. It's in the middle of the light zone. You can use it Variation of latitude Reflects the latitude movement of the sunshine area and shows the solar terms (seasons). Local time , Universal time The previous display just hung many clocks and marked the city where the clock indicated the time. This shows how many cities have to hang how many clocks, too cumbersome, so often only a few cities are given Local time It's far from complete. It's also on the map Wall clock That's a lot of space. The astronomical globe can give the geographical location of the whole world Local time Information such as universal time, time difference, and is given according to the definition of time (the interval between the two successive middays at the center of the sun), which is vivid. Giving the time of producing each astronomical information at the same time not only makes people get the time information, but also increases the knowledge. As for the image of the sunlight regions of the Earth, people have not been able to know, the astronomical globe can give a simulation of their image. People can enjoy the beauty of nature from all angles, enlightening your imagination of space. The celestial globe is a brand new product, its use function needs to be further developed, there will be more uses.

The object of service of the astronomical telescope is relatively wide. From the industry, transportation and tourism, teaching and popular science industry, scientific research, military, industry and agriculture, office, home, etc., from the scale of the astronomical globe is Series products Can be large or small, large to the hall or even the square, small to the room can be used. It is the best plan to replace the world clock in the transportation and tourism industry. It not only increases the service function, but also the luxury style, especially in the cruise hall, it not only meets the needs of tourists for information, and its artistic modeling also radiates the imagination of tourists to the sky and the sea. Teaching popular science using it makes the book knowledge visualized, the plane diagram three-dimensional, the motion of the motion, become serious teaching interest. It can greatly improve the teaching effect and shorten the teaching time. Both science and the military need geography Astronomical time Such information, it can be visually provided, and provide schematic methods to illustrate the problem. Industrial and agricultural production also needs it, especially agriculture is more obvious, thousands of years according to the solar terms Sow (seeds) They are actually planted in accordance with the latitude of the sunshine area. The astronomical globe not only shows the solar terms (seasons) but also shows the sunshine Angle and daily Illumination time The length of. Both office and home need to know daily astronomical, time and other information, it is for office and home furnishings Also very elegant, the master's Cultural quality . Especially under the premise of more and more spacious housing, it has created conditions for its furnishings.

Qianlong was an emperor who was keen on collecting cultural relics. During his reign, he ordered the jade ware produced by the Qing Palace Building Office, Ivory carving And so many other curiosities. So why did he order the building office to spend so much money on such a celestial globe? This, of course, goes back to the origins of astronomy. The origins of astronomy can be traced back to the embryonic era of human culture. Ancient times In order to indicate the direction, determine the time and season, people observe the sun, moon and stars, determine their positions, find out the law of their changes, and prepare the calendar accordingly. It can be said that astronomy is one of the oldest natural sciences. In China, by the Qing Dynasty, the rulers had developed a keen interest in Western astronomy and geoscience.

Gold inlaid pearl sphere instrument

Era: Qing Dynasty Qianlong Period (AD 1711 - AD 1799)

Level: Country First-class cultural relics

Now stored in: The Palace Museum in Beijing

Rare treasures of the Qianlong period Gold inlaid pearl celestial globe It was Emperor Qianlong who ordered the Qing Palace Manufacturing office Made of pure gold, 82 cm high, sophisticated workmanship, extremely luxurious.

The diameter of the spherical instrument is about 30 centimeters, and the two semi-circles played by the gold leaf hammer are integrated into one body, the seam is the equator, and the center of the two ends of the ball is the north and South Pole. The North Pole has an hour disk, about 23 degrees from the equator. The equator intersects with the ecliptic, and the crossing points are the spring and autumn equinoxes. The circle standing right outside the ball is meridian The sphere is decorated with stars, and the position distribution is very scientific.

According to a book published during the Qianlong period Instrument image exam According to the records, the Celestial Sphere has 3 walls, 28 stars, 300 constellations, and 3,242 stars. adopt Red gold Green jade The method takes pearls of different sizes as stars, inlaid on the sphere and engraved with the names of the constellations. The appropriate proportion and accurate position reflect the high level of astronomical science and technology in Qing Dynasty of China.

The support of the Celestial globe is shaped like a goblet, with 9 walking dragons of different posture supporting the sphere. The top is 4 floating dragons under the head and tail to hold the sphere, and the bottom is the falling dragon on the head and tail to form a stable sphere, and a dragon in the middle connects the upper and lower parts to form a swimming dragon holding column. 9 lines of dragon using hammer method to form a hollow round sculpture, the surface of the dragon is to draw silk method to form a dragon scale, Dragon beard , Dragon's eye The ornamentation of... The dragon is breathing clouds and clouds, the shape is vivid, and the details are finely carved and lifelike.

The base of the spherical instrument is circular enamel Disc base, the whole body with a fine wire disc out of the winding pattern, embedded in blueing And light blue Enamel glaze , in order to Rich and colorful The tone changes the monotony of pure gold. cloisonne The foot is also shaped by four dragon heads, using the high relief method, very rich decorative . On the base tray is the surging sea waves, and in the center of the tray is Compass . The 9 dragons of the support and the 4 dragons of the chassis are integrated, looking at the gods, forming a group of dragons dancing with the surging sea water in the base, the magnificent momentum of the rolling river, the scientific rigor and the romantic harmony of the craft are integrated, and it is a unique art treasure.

The 82cm tall celestial globe is housed in the Palace Museum. Mainly gold, the surface of the celestial sphere is embedded with 3242 treasure beads, and the names are marked next to the pearls, which are extremely precious cultural relics. We can say that the largest pearl on it represents the brightest first magnitude star in the sky. Then it descends in turn, and the smallest is the sixth magnitude star in the sky. Imported from the West. From this instrument, we can see the characteristics of the communication between Chinese and Western cultures.

Another biggest feature is that it looks like a celestial sphere outside. But the celestial sphere Spherical shell Inside is actually the heart of the clock, with three holes in the south of the apex of the celestial sphere. After the three holes are placed in the key and twisted, the celestial sphere can be rotated endlessly. So you can not only see that the Celestial sphere is one Astronomical instrument It can also be vividly seen that it is constantly rotating, demonstrating the landscape of astrological activity. This was also a new development in the Qianlong period.