FOR IMMIDIATE RELEASE
George Trimble & Sapere
Aude Books release only English language
book in print covering
modern astrolabe manufacture
Valuable resource for
astronomy enthusiasts everywhere
By George Trimble
May 25, 2018
Cleveland, OH— The Theory, Design, Manufacture & Use of The
Astrolabe; Wheel of Esoteric, Ancient Wisdom has just been released by
Sapere Aude Books and the author, Dr. George Trimble. Five years of research
and preparation went into its creation. The book’s release is timed to
coincide with the launch of the website supporting its release.
About the astrolabe
The astrolabe is an ancient astronomical observational tool and
analog computer based on the stereographic projection. First conceived by
Hipparchus, perfected by Ptolemy and later embellished by the Arabs of
antiquity, the astrolabe is used to solve problems relating to the timing
and location of astronomical phenomenon.
“It can actually tell time, and solve problems in plane and
spherical trigonometry,” says Dr. Trimble.
About the Book
The release of this book is important, as it represents the only
English language resource on the topic in print.
“There have been other books about astrolabes available in
modern times, but none is now in print,” says the author. “None of these
previously available books on the subject of astrolabes addressed the very
practical question of how to actually manufacture your own working metal
device at home using modern tools and techniques.”
This four–part textbook begins by teaching the ancient astronomy
upon which the device is founded. Readers are introduced to the first,
second and third motions of the sun; ancient methods of equinox and solstice
determination; how to determine the length of the year; the solar anomaly
and the surprising variation in the length of seasons. From these
observationally determined parameters, Hipparchus reached the startling
conclusion that the Earth’s position within the circle of the sun’s motion
must be eccentric. “An accurate value for the eccentricity of Earth’s orbit
may be derived from the astrolabe drawing by forming the ratio between the
lengths of two lines. It is amazing that orbital parameters just jump out of
the 2000-year-old drafting methods,” Says Trimble. He goes on to describe
how to calculate precession of the equinoxes using mathematics within easy
reach of anyone possessed of high school algebra.
Part two of the book focuses on the geometric construction
methods of Ptolemy using inexpensive, modern CAD drawing software. “I wanted
the astrolabe to be available to the average guy with a bit of motivation,
and drawing software commonly available for $40.00 or less at his local
software store or online,” says Trimble. The reader is guided through
drawing his own latitude specific device using the geometry of the ancients,
avoiding the algebra of previous modern books on the subject which were
directed at those interested in writing computer code to programmatically
generate the lines of an astrolabe. “There is so much more to be learned
about astronomy from doing the drawings like the ancients,” says the author.
Part three of the book has no equivalent in all of historical
writing. It takes the reader step–by–step through the process of safely acid
etching a device at home in the kitchen using a method the author perfected
for the task. “Without expensive engraving tools and the training to
laboriously hand cut the many lines of the astrolabe into a metal plate, the
astrolabe would be out of reach to the average maker. My technique makes a
working metal astrolabe attainable by anyone,” says Dr. Trimble.
Naturally, part four of the book is dedicated to the use of the
device. “Not since Geoffrey Chaucer wrote A treatise on the Astrolabe has
such a detailed treatment on the subject been available in English.”
Says Trimble “The amateur astronomy enthusiast will love my
book. They will harken back to the heady days when they made their first
telescope by hand grinding their own optics. I think they will greatly value
a new homemade instrument of such observational and predictive power.” He
continues: “Anyone interested in the history of science and technology will
be appreciative of the detailed historical treatment of how we know what we
know.”
Dr. Trimble is Vice President of The Chagrin Valley Astronomical Society in
Ohio and is Editor of The Valley Skywatcher. He is also the Founder
of The Eastlake School of Amateur Astronomy. He is the author of Einstein’s
Theory of Special Relativity, A Mathematical Approach for Non-Physicists.
He is available to lecture to interested groups on either of these topics
nationwide. The book is now available for purchase at WWW.AstrolabeBook.com,
where more information is available. It will soon be available at bookstores
nationwide.
For more information or to inquire about lectures for your club or group
contact:
George Layton Trimble IV, MD
36480 Sandy Knoll Dr.
Eastlake, OH 44095
http://www.AstrolableBook.com