Astronomical clock Facts for Kids

Astronomical clock face (Prague).

The Rasmus Sørnes Clock, made in the 20th century.

One of several designs by Christiaan van der Klaauw

An astronomical clock is a special kind of clock. It has unique parts and dials (the clock face) that show information about space. These clocks can tell you where the sun, moon, and zodiac signs are. Sometimes, they even show the main planets. Some astronomical clocks are huge and found in public places. Others are smaller tools for inside buildings. You can even find very accurate astronomical watches.

The idea for these amazing clocks is very old. For example, in ancient Greece, around 200 BC, there was something called the Antikythera mechanism. It wasn't a clock like we know today. But it used many complex gears. It could figure out where the sun, moon, and stars would be at any time. Many experts believe that European astronomical clocks came from this ancient technology. Later, in the 1st century BC, a writer named Cicero wrote about how Archimedes and Posidonius made similar devices. These were called orreries. They could also show the movements of the planets.

In the Middle Ages, people believed the Earth was the center of the universe. This idea is called geocentrism. So, the astronomical clocks from that time showed the Sun going around the Earth. This made sense to people before Nicolaus Copernicus showed that the Earth actually goes around the Sun.

Images for kids

The astrarium made by the Italian astronomer and physician Giovanni Dondi dell'Orologio showed hour, year calendar, movement of the planets, Sun and Moon. Reconstruction, Museo nazionale della scienza e della tecnologia Leonardo da Vinci, Milan.
The courtier and bibliophile Louis de Gruuthuse in front of an astronomical clock. Henri Suso, Horloge de Sapience, 1470-1480
Diagram showing how the zodiac is projected on to the ecliptic dial – the symbols are often drawn inside the dial.
Stereographic projection from the North Pole.
Ulysse Nardin Astrolabium Galileo Galilei
Citizen Cosmosign
Citizen Moonsign
Zimmer tower in Lier, Belgium
Sint-Truiden clock
Dubrovnik
Prague astronomical clock
Olomouc astronomical clock
Prostějov clock
Kryštofovo Údolí astronomical clock
Hojsova Stráž clock
Žatec clock
Jens Olsen's World Clock, Copenhagen
Tour de l'Horloge, Auxerre
Bourges astronomical clock in Bourges Cathedral
Clock at Chartres Cathedral
Lyon astronomical clock in Lyon Cathedral
Strasbourg astronomical clock in Strasbourg Cathedral
Beauvais astronomical clock in Beauvais Cathedral
St. Nicholas' Church, Stralsund
St. Mary's Church, Rostock
Münster Cathedral
St. Mary's Church, Lübeck
Ulm
Deutsches Museum, Munich
Budapest
Cremona
Mantua
Brescia
Padua
Venice
Messina
Rebuilt clock on the House of the Blackheads (Riga)
Grandmaster's Palace, Valletta
Arnemuiden clock showing high and low water (hoog and laag)
The Eise Eisinga Planetarium in Franeker
Oslo City Hall
Gdańsk
Wrocław Town Hall
Stará Bystrica
Lund astronomical clock
Rinkaby church clock
Zytglogge, Bern
Solothurn
Siegelturm, Diessenhofen
Fronwagturm, Schaffhausen
Zytturm, Zug
Sion
Wells Cathedral clock
Exeter Cathedral astronomical clock
Ottery St Mary astronomical clock
Hampton Court astronomical clock
York Minster astronomical clock
Bracken House, London clock

Astronomical clock facts for kids

Images for kids

See also