Orrery planetary model

Made:
1789-1795 in London
maker:
George Adams
Brass drum orrery by George Adams Brass drum orrery by George Adams

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Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

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License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

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Brass drum orrery by George Adams
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass drum orrery by George Adams
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Brass drum orrery by George Adams, London on claw foot stand with mahogany case. Accessories include detachable tellurium and lunarium wheelwork with planet out to Uranus included.

Dated to the middle of the eighteenth century, this planetary model was made by the famous London instrument maker, George Adams. Called an orrery or planetarium, it is a demonstration model to show the motions of the Earth, Moon and planets around the Sun. It has a brass drum base with pedestal stand and seven planets out to Uranus on long rod-arms. Such devices became popular during the eighteenth century, especially after Sir Isaac Newton published his universal theory of gravity. To reproduce the motions of the solar system this model employs a hand crank to drive gear wheels. This fine orrery would have been the property of a wealthy individual with an interest in astronomy.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1927-528
Materials:
brass, steel, ivory, card and complete
Measurements:
overall (estimate): 470 x 600 x 340 mm
type:
demonstration models, orreries, planetaria (models), globes (cartographic spheres) and terrestrial globe
credit:
Mr C.D. Field