Historical Accounts of Meteorites We are told that, on November 16, 1492, a stone weighing 300 pounds fell at Ensisheim, in Alsace. Emperor Maximilian, who was then in Basel, caused the stone to be brought to the neighboring castle and summoned a state council to determine the character of the divine message associated with its fall. The council decided that the event signified some important occurrence in the approaching conflict between the French and the Turks, and the stone, with an appropriate inscription, was suspended in the church, the strictest injunctions being given that it should not be removed. Conrad Gesner, in his treatise, “De figuris lapidum,” states that a fragment of this stone was given to him by a friend and that it resembled ordinary sandstone. Nineteen years later a shower of stones fell near Crema, east of Milan; these stones fell in French territory and at that time the Pope was engaged in hostilities with the French. During the following year, the French, who had long threatened the States of the Church from their possessions in Lombardy, were forced to withdraw from Italy. In the celebrated painting by Raphael, known as the Madonna di Foligno (above), one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican, this Crema fire-ball is depicted (detail below).
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Historical Accounts of Meteorites

We are told that, on November 16, 1492, a stone weighing 300 pounds fell at Ensisheim, in Alsace. Emperor Maximilian, who was then in Basel, caused the stone to be brought to the neighboring castle and summoned a state council to determine the character of the divine message associated with its fall. The council decided that the event signified some important occurrence in the approaching conflict between the French and the Turks, and the stone, with an appropriate inscription, was suspended in the church, the strictest injunctions being given that it should not be removed. Conrad Gesner, in his treatise, “De figuris lapidum,” states that a fragment of this stone was given to him by a friend and that it resembled ordinary sandstone.

Nineteen years later a shower of stones fell near Crema, east of Milan; these stones fell in French territory and at that time the Pope was engaged in hostilities with the French. During the following year, the French, who had long threatened the States of the Church from their possessions in Lombardy, were forced to withdraw from Italy. In the celebrated painting by Raphael, known as the Madonna di Foligno (above), one of the greatest treasures of the Vatican, this Crema fire-ball is depicted (detail below).

Source: jjkent.com

Even though scientists have busted the myth there are several other stories about the super moon. In medieval times people believed that the full moon or the super moon could make a person go crazy. They believed that the moon caused mental disorders. image:  Arabic illustration explaining the phases of the Moon 
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Even though scientists have busted the myth there are several other stories about the super moon. In medieval times people believed that the full moon or the super moon could make a person go crazy. They believed that the moon caused mental disorders.

image:  Arabic illustration explaining the phases of the Moon 


Source: ibtimes.co.uk

In 1617, David Fabricius lay on a church floor at the age of 53, murdered by a man wielding a shovel, who Fabricius had just accused of stealing a goose. It was a sorry end for the person who was first to spot one of the most important objects in the history of astronomy – a flashing star called Mira. And that is how you open an article! Not medieval, but it’s always interesting to unravel some mysteries that occupied our ancestors’ minds. Read the rest
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In 1617, David Fabricius lay on a church floor at the age of 53, murdered by a man wielding a shovel, who Fabricius had just accused of stealing a goose. It was a sorry end for the person who was first to spot one of the most important objects in the history of astronomy – a flashing star called Mira.

And that is how you open an article! Not medieval, but it’s always interesting to unravel some mysteries that occupied our ancestors’ minds.

Read the rest

Source: newscientist.com

Planispheric astrolabe Spanish (Barcelona), Medieval (Gothic), 1375 Gilded brass high-res front high-res back
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Planispheric astrolabe

  • Spanish (Barcelona), Medieval (Gothic), 1375
  • Gilded brass

high-res front

high-res back

Source: mfa.org

Monstrance Clock or Mirror Clock, ca. 1570Made in Nuremberg, GermanyCase of gilt bronze; dial of gilt brass; movement of steel In addition to showing the hours, the astrolabe dial of this clock (parts of which are now missing) was made to indicate the apparent motions of twenty-three stars in the northern hemisphere, the position of the sun and the moon in the zodiac, the astrological houses of heaven, and the age and phase of the moon in its monthly cycle. The recessed ring encircling the chapter of hours gives the day of the year, saints’ days, and other calendrical information for the period beginning in 1570 and ending in 1610. The dial on top is for setting the alarm. The inclusion of a clock such as this one in a Kunstkammer would have demonstrated the owner’s familiarity with cosmology, astronomy, and astrology.
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Monstrance Clock or Mirror Clock, ca. 1570
Made in Nuremberg, Germany
Case of gilt bronze; dial of gilt brass; movement of steel


In addition to showing the hours, the astrolabe dial of this clock (parts of which are now missing) was made to indicate the apparent motions of twenty-three stars in the northern hemisphere, the position of the sun and the moon in the zodiac, the astrological houses of heaven, and the age and phase of the moon in its monthly cycle.

The recessed ring encircling the chapter of hours gives the day of the year, saints’ days, and other calendrical information for the period beginning in 1570 and ending in 1610. The dial on top is for setting the alarm. The inclusion of a clock such as this one in a Kunstkammer would have demonstrated the owner’s familiarity with cosmology, astronomy, and astrology.

Source: metmuseum.org

Chinese mechanical and horological engineering from the Song Dynasty; this diagram provides an overall general view of the inner workings and armillary sphere of Su Song’s clocktower built in Kaifeng. The drawn illustration comes from Su Song’s book Xin Yi Xiang Fa Yao published in the year 1092. On the right is the upper reservoir tank with the ‘constant-level tank’ beneath it. In the center foreground is the ‘earth horizon’ box in which the celestial globe was mounted. Below that are the time keeping shaft and wheels supported by a mortar-shaped end-bearing. Behind this is the main driving wheel with its spokes and scoops. Above that are the left and right upper locks with an upper balancing lever and upper link. This picture is a scaled model of Su Song’s water-powered clock tower.
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Chinese mechanical and horological engineering from the Song Dynasty; this diagram provides an overall general view of the inner workings and armillary sphere of Su Song’s clocktower built in Kaifeng.

The drawn illustration comes from Su Song’s book Xin Yi Xiang Fa Yao published in the year 1092.

On the right is the upper reservoir tank with the ‘constant-level tank’ beneath it. In the center foreground is the ‘earth horizon’ box in which the celestial globe was mounted. Below that are the time keeping shaft and wheels supported by a mortar-shaped end-bearing. Behind this is the main driving wheel with its spokes and scoops. Above that are the left and right upper locks with an upper balancing lever and upper link.

This picture is a scaled model of Su Song’s water-powered clock tower.

Source: Wikipedia

image: The Geocentric Solar System -Bartolomeu Velho Geocentrism is an astronomical theory, central to the astronomy of Ancient Greece that posits that the Earth lies at the centre of the universe. Until…In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published a paper entitled, On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres. He set out to mathematically demonstrate the viability of a heliocentric solar system, where the planets orbit the sun, instead of the other way around.
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image: The Geocentric Solar System -Bartolomeu Velho

Geocentrism is an astronomical theory, central to the astronomy of Ancient Greece that posits that the Earth lies at the centre of the universe.

Until…

In 1543, the Polish astronomer Nicolaus Copernicus published a paper entitled, On the Revolution of Heavenly Spheres. He set out to mathematically demonstrate the viability of a heliocentric solar system, where the planets orbit the sun, instead of the other way around.


Source: terry-long.suite101.com

Andrea Pisano, Astronomy from the Campanile reliefs
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Andrea Pisano, Astronomy from the Campanile reliefs

Source: counterlightsrantsandblather1.blogspot.com

On this day, July 4 1054, a supernova is seen by Chinese, Arab, and possibly Amerindian observers near the star Zeta Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula. SN1054, the supernova of 1054, is a supernova that was observed as a new “star” in the sky beginning in July, 1054 AD, and lasted for a period of approximately two years. Many documents from the Chinese world record the event, which was also noted in a document from the Arab world. In contrast, a more recently formulated hypothesis regarding the knowledge and record of this event by Europeans and Native Americans of the time remains highly uncertain.
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On this day, July 4 1054, a supernova is seen by Chinese, Arab, and possibly Amerindian observers near the star Zeta Tauri. For several months it remains bright enough to be seen during the day. Its remnants form the Crab Nebula.

SN1054, the supernova of 1054, is a supernova that was observed as a new “star” in the sky beginning in July, 1054 AD, and lasted for a period of approximately two years. Many documents from the Chinese world record the event, which was also noted in a document from the Arab world. In contrast, a more recently formulated hypothesis regarding the knowledge and record of this event by Europeans and Native Americans of the time remains highly uncertain.

Halley’s Comet In 1066, the comet was seen in England and thought to be an omen: later that year Harold II of England died at the Battle of Hastings; it was a bad omen for Harold, but a good omen for the man who defeated him, William the Conqueror. The comet is represented on the Bayeux Tapestry as a fiery star, and the surviving accounts describe it as appearing to be four times the size of Venus and shining with a light equal to a quarter of that of the Moon. Halley came within 0.10 AU of the Earth at that time. This appearance of the comet is also noted in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Eilmer of Malmesbury may have seen Halley previously in 989, as he wrote of it in 1066: “You’ve come, have you? … You’ve come, you source of tears to many mothers, you evil. I hate you! It is long since I saw you; but as I see you now you are much more terrible, for I see you brandishing the downfall of my country. I hate you!” The Irish Annals of the Four Masters recorded the comet as “A star [that] appeared on the seventh of the Calends of May, on Tuesday after Little Easter, than whose light the brilliance or light of the moon was not greater; and it was visible to all in this manner till the end of four nights afterwards.” Chaco Native Americans in New Mexico may have recorded the 1066 apparition in their petroglyphs.
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Halley’s Comet

In 1066, the comet was seen in England and thought to be an omen: later that year Harold II of England died at the Battle of Hastings; it was a bad omen for Harold, but a good omen for the man who defeated him, William the Conqueror. The comet is represented on the Bayeux Tapestry as a fiery star, and the surviving accounts describe it as appearing to be four times the size of Venus and shining with a light equal to a quarter of that of the Moon. Halley came within 0.10 AU of the Earth at that time.

This appearance of the comet is also noted in the Anglo-Saxon Chronicle. Eilmer of Malmesbury may have seen Halley previously in 989, as he wrote of it in 1066: “You’ve come, have you? … You’ve come, you source of tears to many mothers, you evil. I hate you! It is long since I saw you; but as I see you now you are much more terrible, for I see you brandishing the downfall of my country. I hate you!”

The Irish Annals of the Four Masters recorded the comet as “A star [that] appeared on the seventh of the Calends of May, on Tuesday after Little Easter, than whose light the brilliance or light of the moon was not greater; and it was visible to all in this manner till the end of four nights afterwards.” Chaco Native Americans in New Mexico may have recorded the 1066 apparition in their petroglyphs.

From  ‘La Sphere du Monde’, 1549, by Oronce Fine. You can find more illustrations from this book here. However interesting these may seem, Fine’s ideas were not original and he was looked down upon by most of his contemporaries.  “Fine’s scientific work may be briefly characterised as encyclopaedic, elementary, and unoriginal. It appears that the goal of his publications, which range in subject from astronomy to instrumental music, was to popularise the university science that he himself had been taught.”
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From  ‘La Sphere du Monde’, 1549, by Oronce Fine.

You can find more illustrations from this book here.

However interesting these may seem, Fine’s ideas were not original and he was looked down upon by most of his contemporaries. 

“Fine’s scientific work may be briefly characterised as encyclopaedic, elementary, and unoriginal. It appears that the goal of his publications, which range in subject from astronomy to instrumental music, was to popularise the university science that he himself had been taught.”

I see this circling around, so… This is from a hand-written manuscript “La Sphere du Monde” by Oronce Fine. It represents the Geocentric (Ptolemaic) model of the universe. BUT in 1543 the Copernican Revolution appeared (but it wasn’t accepted for about two centuries).  This is enough for the beginning. Just wanted to clear things up a bit. I’ll post more about  both models in near future. Thanks for the idea, guys! There was no astronomy on Medium Aevum. kabroder: Well this is interesting.  I hadn’t seen one like this before.  The earth is surrounded by air and then fire, and then the moon, sun, planets and stars.  Kind of odd how the sun and le feu are separate spheres.  I don’t know a lot about Medieval astronomy, unfortunately.  More for me to look into, I suppose. historyis: Astronomy - 1549.
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I see this circling around, so…

This is from a hand-written manuscript “La Sphere du Monde” by Oronce Fine. It represents the Geocentric (Ptolemaic) model of the universe.

BUT in 1543 the Copernican Revolution appeared (but it wasn’t accepted for about two centuries). 

This is enough for the beginning. Just wanted to clear things up a bit. I’ll post more about  both models in near future.

Thanks for the idea, guys! There was no astronomy on Medium Aevum.

kabroder:

Well this is interesting.  I hadn’t seen one like this before.  The earth is surrounded by air and then fire, and then the moon, sun, planets and stars.  Kind of odd how the sun and le feu are separate spheres.  I don’t know a lot about Medieval astronomy, unfortunately.  More for me to look into, I suppose.

historyis:

Astronomy - 1549.

Astronomical clock, Prague
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Astronomical clock, Prague