orrery
Mechanical solar system model
An orrery is a mechanical model of the solar system, with balls representing planets that rotate around a central sun when a crank is turned.
The device demonstrates planetary motion and relative positions.
Named after the Earl of Orrery, for whom an early example was built in the 18th century, orreries range from simple educational tools to elaborate clockwork showpieces.
Spring-driven gear system
- gearsToothed rotating machine parts
- cogsProjections on a wheel
- armatureRotating electromagnetic coil
- brassCopper-zinc metal mixture
mechanism · precision · escapement · winding · crank · movement · springs · automaton
Star-orbiting celestial bodies
- sunEarth's primary star
- orbitCurved celestial path
- eclipticSun's apparent annual path
- mercuryLiquid metallic element
earth · mars · moon · celestial · heliocentric · geocentric · conjunction · transit
Representation or paradigm
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
- representationDepiction or likeness
- globeSpherical representation of landmasses
diorama · reproduction · simulation · tabletop · desktop · facsimile · sculptural · decorative
Public display of opinion
- EnlightenmentEra prioritizing reason over dogma
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- CopernicusRenaissance astronomer, heliocentrism
- KeplerPlanetary motion law formulator
Galileo · Newton · scientific · curriculum · cosmology · discovery · lecture · instrument
Inherited family treasure
- VictorianOf a prim era
- GeorgianOf four kings' era
- collectibleObject worth amassing
- restorationReturning something to condition
patina · curio · relic · artifact · vintage · classic · antiquarian · treasure
clockwork
Spring-driven gear system
brass · mechanism · precision · escapement · winding · crank · movement · springs · automaton · kinetic
planets
Star-orbiting celestial bodies
mercury · earth · mars · moon · celestial · heliocentric · geocentric · conjunction · transit · rotation
model
Representation or paradigm
- scaleMeasure of relative size
- replicaFaithful scaled reproduction
- representationDepiction or likeness
globe · diorama · reproduction · simulation · tabletop · desktop · facsimile · sculptural · decorative · intricate
demonstration
Public display of opinion
- EnlightenmentEra prioritizing reason over dogma
- teachingProfession of instructing others
- CopernicusRenaissance astronomer, heliocentrism
Kepler · Galileo · Newton · scientific · curriculum · cosmology · discovery · lecture · instrument · illustration
heirloom
Inherited family treasure
- VictorianOf a prim era
- GeorgianOf four kings' era
- collectibleObject worth amassing
restoration · patina · curio · relic · artifact · vintage · classic · antiquarian · treasure · rarities
- planetariumdome, projector, star show, constellations, planets
- antique instrumentsastrolabe, sextant, octant, quadrant, theodolite
- astronomical clocksstar wheel, celestial sphere, solar time, lunar calendar
- astronomy toolstelescope, binoculars, star chart, star map, planetarium
- cosmic modelsplanetarium, solar system model, celestial sphere, armillary sphere, geocentric model
- mechanical artkinetic art, automaton, automatons, kinetic sculpture, clockwork
orrerytelescope
Instrument magnifying faraway objects
observatory · radio telescope · space probe · Hubble Space Telescope · James Webb Space Telescope