celestial globe
Spherical star chart
A celestial globe is a spherical model showing the positions of stars and constellations as they appear from Earth, mapped onto the outer surface of a ball.
Unlike a terrestrial globe showing Earth's geography, a celestial globe depicts the night sky, with the viewer imagining themselves at the center looking outward.
These were important astronomical instruments before planetariums.
- armillary sphereRinged astronomical teaching model
- orreryMechanical solar system model
- zodiacCelestial belt of signs
- planisphereAdjustable celestial map disc
- astrolabeAncient altitude-measuring instrument
star chart · star map · ecliptic · declination · Ptolemy · pole · fixed stars · axis · meridian · constellations · mounting · great circle · Tycho Brahe · polar star · telescope · astronomy · navigation tool · heavens