Astronomical clock Facts for Kids

Astronomical clock face (Prague).

The Rasmus Sørnes Clock, made in the 20th century.

One of several designs by Christiaan van der Klaauw

An astronomical clock is a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information. It shows the relative positions of the sun, moon, zodiacal constellations, and sometimes major planets. Some examples are large public clocks, but others are instruments for use inside buildings. Astronomical watches are made by several manufacturers. They are also extremely accurate.

The clocks made in the Middle Ages used the geocentric method, showing the Earth at the centre. The Sun rotates round the Earth: this accords with daily experience and with the world view of pre-Copernican Europe.

The idea of an astronomical clock is ancient. Although not a clock in the traditional sense, the 2nd century BC Antikythera mechanism of ancient Greece was used to calculate the positions of the sun, moon, and stars at any given point by use of complex mechanical gears. European astronomical clocks are probably descended from the technology of the Antikythera mechanism. As Cicero later wrote in the 1st century BC, Archimedes and Posidonius's orrery achieved virtually the same thing.

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The astrarium made by the Italian astronomer and physician Giovanni Dondi dell'Orologio showed hour, year calendar, movement of the planets, Sun and Moon. Reconstruction, Museo nazionale della scienza e della tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Milan.
The courtier and bibliophile Louis de Gruuthuse in front of an astronomical clock. Henri Suso, Horloge de Sapience, 1470-1480
Diagram showing how the zodiac is projected on to the ecliptic dial – the symbols are often drawn inside the dial.
Stereographic projection from the North Pole.
Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium Galileo Galilei
Citizen Cosmosign
Citizen Moonsign
Zimmer tower in Lier, Belgium
Sint-Truiden clock
Dubrovnik
Prague astronomical clock
Olomouc astronomical clock
Prostějov clock
Kryštofovo Údolí astronomical clock
Hojsova Stráž clock
Žatec clock
Jens Olsen's World Clock, Copenhagen
Tour de l'Horloge, Auxerre
Bourges astronomical clock in Bourges Cathedral
Clock at Chartres Cathedral
Lyon astronomical clock in Lyon Cathedral
Strasbourg astronomical clock in Strasbourg Cathedral
Beauvais astronomical clock in Beauvais Cathedral
St. Nicholas' Church, Stralsund
St. Mary's Church, Rostock
Münster Cathedral
St. Mary's Church, Lübeck
Ulm
Deutsches Museum, Munich
Budapest
Cremona
Mantua
Brescia
Padua
Venice
Messina
Rebuilt clock on the House of the Blackheads (Riga)
Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta
Arnemuiden clock showing high and low water (hoog and laag)
The Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker
Oslo City Hall
Gdańsk
Wrocław Town Hall
Stará Bystrica
Lund astronomical clock
Rinkaby church clock
Zytglogge, Bern
Solothurn
Siegelturm, Diessenhofen
Fronwagturm, Schaffhausen
Zytturm, Zug
Sion
Wells Cathedral clock
Exeter Cathedral astronomical clock
Ottery St Mary astronomical clock
Hampton Court astronomical clock
York Minster astronomical clock
Bracken House, London clock

Astronomical clock facts for kids

Images for kids

See also