Flammarion's planisphere
By FLAMMARION, Camille. , 1880
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[Celestial Planisphere] Planisphère céleste mobile pour l'Horizon de Paris dressé sous la direction de Camille Flammarion par Léon Fenet.

Planetaria, calendars, and dials
  • Author: FLAMMARION, Camille.
  • Publication place: 44 Rue N.D. des Champs, Paris
  • Publisher: THOMAS, G.
  • Publication date: c.1880
  • Physical description: Lithograph circular celestial chart printed in colours (500mm diameter) mounted on pine board rotating on a brass pin, with apertures for calendar and map of the heavens, the surround printed with instructions for use.
  • Dimensions: 557 by 545mm. (22 by 21.5 inches).
  • Inventory reference: 2312

Notes

An uncommon planisphere of stars visible to the naked eye by the astronomer Camille Flammarion (1842-1925) and lithographed by Léon Fenet (1839-1898). The charts may be dated subsequent to the creation of the magazine “Astronomy” by Camille Flammarion (1887) and prior to his death (1925), as the printed description states that the chart includes all of the stars listed inn Flammarion’s catalogue, represented by their apparent magnitude.

The text in the four corners of the chart gives some example exercises in astronomical calculation, concluding: “In a word, this mobile Planisphère solves all issues related to the apparent position of the stars, the Sun, Moon and planets [to the horizon of Paris], and gives the simplest and easiest way to find these stars in the sky without having studied previously”.

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