Accession No
1093
Brief Description
artificial horizon, 1825 (c)
Origin
Maker
Class
navigation
Earliest Date
1825
Latest Date
1825
Inscription Date
Material
glass; metal (brass)
Dimensions
diameter 108mm; thickness 30mm
Special Collection
Provenance
Transferred from the Cavendish Laboratory. Originally part of the Wollaston Collection (see Reporter, 20-5-1876), presented to University in 1876 and deposited in the Cavendish Laboratory (Handlist no.28. Instrument now lacks bubble level and case). Cavendish Lab. L.168.
Inscription
Description Notes
Black glass artificial horizon, mounted in brass with 3 levelling screws.
Originally part of the Wollaston Collection (see Reporter, 20-5-1876), presented to University in 1876 and deposited in the Cavendish Laboratory (Handlist no.28. Bubble level and case now missing).
References
Events
Description
Artificial horizon
An artificial horizon can be used in darkness, fog, or when the real horizon is obscured for any other reason. They were often used in conjunction with other instruments that need a horizontal level, such as a sextant or reflecting circle. There are records of use from the mid 16th century onwards.
The 2 basic types of artificial horizon were mercury with a glass cover – the top layer of the mercury always staying level (this type is not very practical for use on a ship) and bubble levels, where the position of bubbles in a liquid shows which way the axis is tilting.
18/10/2002
Created by: Saffron Clackson on 18/10/2002
FM:43392
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