Wednesday, July 4, 2012

Orreries


I've always wanted an orrery. Perhaps not exactly like Aughra's orrery in The Dark Crystal (for a start, where would I put it?) but I'm fascinated by the idea of a mechanical representation of celestial motion.

Did you know: 
  • That it was called an orrery after the Earl of Orrery commissioned a mechanical planetarium as a gift for his son in the early 18th century?
  • That you can make your own orrery from such mundane materials as Meccano and LEGO?
  • That you can buy your own working orrery, designed and made by Brian Greig, who created the gorgeous Tellurion at Sydney Observatory?

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