Orrery

An orrery is a mechanical model of the Solar System. It shows the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons. It is usually a heliocentric model.^[1]

The Greeks had working planetaria. The first orrery that was a planetarium of the modern era was produced in 1704.^[2] One was presented to Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery – hence the name. They are usually driven by a clockwork mechanism. The globe in the centre represents the Sun, and a planet is at the end of each arm.

The first known orrery was the Antikythera mechanism, variously dated from 60 to 150 BC.

References

↑ King, Henry C. & Millburn, John R. 1978. Geared to the stars : the evolution of planetariums, orreries, and astronomical clocks. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 28–41. ISBN 0-8020-2312-6
↑ Calvert, H.R. 1967. Astronomy: globes, orreries and other models. London: H.M.S.O.

[1] King, Henry C. & Millburn, John R. 1978. Geared to the stars : the evolution of planetariums, orreries, and astronomical clocks. Toronto: University of Toronto Press. pp. 28–41. ISBN 0-8020-2312-6

[2] Calvert, H.R. 1967. Astronomy: globes, orreries and other models. London: H.M.S.O.

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