The Torica Astroglobe (Ptolemaic Tellurian)

MCM Torica "Astroglobe" Tellurian by Tokyo Instrument Manufacturing Company Limited, Tokyo, Japan. Circa 1963. An interesting Ptolemaic view of our cosmos. Functional & complete original.

Three metal legs support plastic celestial sphere, then supporting circular metal ring on vertical orientation. Inside which, the meridian (green plastic ring- vertically oriented) wraps around globe & is be slid to adjust globes' inclination. Graduated every 10 degrees, 0-90-0-90-0. Semi-circular, graduated ring (in regular sections) over top hemisphere can be rotated independently from North Pole, allowing for use over globe.

Horizon band (green plastic outer ring- horizontally oriented) graduated every 10 degrees, 0-360. Marked 'N' & 'S', respectively. Raised scales with 24 graduations (grey-discs) at each pole.

Interior surface shows marks indicating stars, celestial bodies, milky way (dotted area), w/ significant features & major constellation stars marked, dotted lines divide areas of sky. Ecliptic marked by band & dotted line. At center sits a 4-inch terrestrial globe, fixed in place w/ rods at poles. When celestial globe is rotated, terrestrial globe remains in place. Moon represented w/ Yellow plastic sphere, Sun represented by w/ Red. When Astroglobe is rotated, the Sun, moon, & Earth's rotation in celestial sphere is accurately observed.

Featured in The Science Museum Group.

Featured in The Scientific Instruments Collection at The University of Toronto.