Out of this World – The Astrolabe at MIA
Age group 15-18 years old (grades 10- 11-12)
Sundays, Mondays and Wednesdays from 8:00am to 10:30am for 1 hour and half
For more information contact: [email protected]
In this workshop, students will learn about the scientific, decorative and social roles of one of the
most well-known traditional astronomical instruments – the astrolabe. The visually stunning
collection at MIA will be the basis of this workshop where students will gain an understanding of
the astrolabe’s function and form.
Students will first be given a brief interactive talk which will introduce the idea of what astrolabes
are and what they were used for, and why it was important to know about stars and constellations
when using them. After an explanation of the rules of conduct, they will then be taken on a tour of
relevant objects in the Museum proper. Once in the Museum, they will be told what a rete (rhymes
with ‘meet’) is and what parts were used to indicate stars. We will look at the different examples of
the work, look for the differences between functional instruments and those only for show, and also
look at how many different kinds of decoration can be found (plants, animal and calligraphy). On
returning to the classroom, students will deepen their understanding by making elements from the
astrolabe, basing their work on real constellations. The rete will serve as the main focus for the
practical side of the workshop, where student will be given photocopies of circles with the star
positions of a real constellation on them. They will design their own retes on these in addition to a
kursi. They will paint and cut out their work to create attractive facsimiles of an astrolabe.
Objectives
To discover more about the dual intellectual role and social role played by astrolabes in through history
To learn about the different parts of an astrolabe and how they all broadly work together to chart the stars
To learn about constellation imagery and its place in navigation
Comparing and analyzing compositions and considering their purposes and how this is conveyed
Understanding the construction of artifacts
Planning images for a final piece
Understanding of decorative elements
Develop and explore ideas using appropriate tools, methods and resources
To learn the 4 aspects of Islamic art; which are vegetal/floral/ arabesque, calligraphy, geometry and figurative art
forms. Then state that all 4 can be found in astrolabe decoration, students will be asked to look for these elements
on the tour
Educational Curriculum Links
MATHS
Investigate Islamic patterns and describe their features
Use the eight points of the compass
ART
Recognize the intersection of science, art, design and functionality
Close relationship between science and art in the history of Islamic civilization
Astrolabes and scientific instruments as artistic and scientific objects
SCIENCE
Understand the historical development of the major scientific ideas
List a number of alloys, including the common forms of steel and their uses and compare their properties with those of the
metals from which they are made
Know how scientific work is affected by its economic, social, cultural, moral, and spiritual contexts
Understand the relationship between forces and movement
Use both experience and information to answer questions
Classify objects into groups according to common characteristics
Sort objects into groups and make comparisons
Study of materials, tools and processes used
LANGUAGE
Use of key vocabulary: star, astrolabe, constellation, north, astronomy, navigation, rete, kursi, etc.
Follow and respond to (by doing) instructions, suggestions, and requests in a sequence of one or more steps
Understand, respond to and take messages or notes for straightforward requests for information
ANALYTICAL THINKING
Working out problems logically
Seeing behind the obvious
Judging the value of different choices
Detecting bias
CREATIVE THINKING
Seeing a new pattern of connection that was not previously apparent
Thinking new ideas and of ways to implement them
If you are interested in further develop the knowledge about Astrolabe:
Eastern Astrolabes. Adler Planetarium & Astronomy Museum. (Available at MIA Library - Call number QB85
.A347 2009)
The Astrolabe: Some Notes on Its History, Construction and Use. Webster, Roderick S. (Available at MIA
Library - Call number QB85 .W42 1974)
Astrolabe. Archinard, Margarida. (Available at MIA Library - Call number QB85 .A67 1983)
Islamic Astrolabes: A User's Guide. (Available at MIA Library - Call number QB85 .I85 2008)
Astrolabes at Greenwich. Ackermann, Silke, and Koenraad Van Cleempoel. Oxford: Oxford University Press,
2005. (Available at MIA Library - QB85 .C65 2005)
MIA objects related to this course:
MW.355: Gilded Brass Universal Astrolabe, North Africa, 18th century
MW.339: Brass Planispheric Astrolabe with Turquoise Inlay, Safavid, Iran, 1095 AH (1683-1684 CE), Qasim 'Ali
Qayini
MW.368: Brass Planispheric Astrolabe, Marinid, Morocco (Fez), 746 AH (1345-1346 CE), by Muhammad al-Bahri
MW.358: Brass Planispheric Astrolabe, North Africa, 18th century
MW.356: Brass Planispheric Astrolabe, North Africa, 1121 AH (1709-1710 CE), by Ahmad al-Sharafi al-'Alami alMaghribi
MW.363: Brass Planispheric Astrolabe, Ottoman, Turkey, 17th century