Improvements in Apparatus for the Tuition of Astronomy and Geography.
Year: 1890

page_text: Date of Application, 25th Oct., 1890-Accepted, 13th Dec., 1890
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Apparatus for the Tuition of Astronomy and
Geography.
I, ANNIE MARGARET GREGORY of 38 Ashley Road Crouch Hill London Principal
of Private School, do hereby declare the nature of this invention and in what
manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and ascertained
in and by the following statement:-
My invention relates to improvements in apparatus for the tuition of astronomy
and geography either separately or in connection one with the other, the object in
view being to facilitate the understanding of these abstruse subjects by so ocularly
demonstrating and illustrating the relative position of the celestial with the terrestrial
globe under the various conditions to which the motion of the earth may give rise, as
to rapidly and fully familiarize the pupil with the many symbols, definitions, names
and lines used in connection with such motion or with the description of the peculiar
features of the terrestrial and celestial worlds.
My invention consists of a stand which carries at the top a central rod fixed to a
semicircle or meridian of brass or other suitable material to the ends of which are
secured two pins or rods fixed at two diametrically opposite extremities of a globe or
ball, representing the earth of which these pins form the polar ends. The said stand
carries likewise a large glass sphere representing the celestial world in the centre of
which the globe aforesaid is placed; the latter is capable of being rotated on the said
pins by means of a long rod passing through a circular perforation of the glass
sphere and extending to the lower part thereof. A bulls eye lantern is used for
demonstrating purposes in conjunction with this apparatus, the circular light
emitted therefrom being assumed to represent the sun, and being moved around
the glass globe in the various positions required to illustrate the distribution of
light on the earth the apparent motion of the sun and the like. And in order that
my invention may be more fully understood, I have shewn the same in the accom-
panying drawings in which
Fig. 1 is a front elevation of my improved apparatus accompanied by a bulls eye
lantern.
the same.
Fig. 2 is a front elevation at right angles to Fig. 1. S is the stand of wood or
other suitable material, which carries a central rod R at the top. This rod is screwed
into the brass meridian M in the ends of which are journalled the pins p p¹ fixed in
the globe G at the opposite ends of the diameter d d'. Another rod N can be fixed
by a bayonet joint to the pin p¹ provided for this purpose with a cross pin p² and
serves to turn the globe or earth G, upon its polar ends or pins p pl; it is furnished
with a knob k to facilitate its manipulation, and extends as shewn in Fig. 2 through
the lower part of the glass globe, O perforated at a to allow for its passage through
The glass globe O represents the celestial sphere and is furnished with a
great circle C representing the ecliptic or the sun's apparent annual path, with
the twelve constellations of the zodiac, with the polar star A, the plough B and the
southern cross D. The glass globe O should be placed in such a manner upon
the stand S that the upward prolongation of the diameter d d' should pass through the
centre of the polar star A the southern cross being at the lower part of the globe O,
its orientation is thus assured. The globe or earth G is furnished with five successive
circles c c² c² c³ c¹ representing respectively from north to south the tropic of Cancer,
the parallel of 6610, the equator, the parallel of 231°, and the tropic of Capricorn, it is
further provided with a number of parallels i i &c., and a number of meridian
of longitudes mm The three crosses g g' g² indicate the position of an observer
at three important points on the surface of the earth L is the bulls eye-lamp the
circular light of which is cast upon the globe O, and is assumed to represent the sun.

page_text: By moving this light along the ecliptic, the sun is made to pursue its apparent annual
path, and the pupil obtains a view of the sun from earth by day. The position of the
sun at the equinoxes in Libra or Aries causes the line dividing daylight from dark-
ness, to cut through both poles, while by moving the sun to the solstices in Cancer or
Capricorn, it will throw a bright illuminating circle on the pole nearest to it and a
corresponding circle of shadow around the opposite pole. The varying meridian
altitudes of the sun on various parts of the surface of the earth can thus be demon-
strated, and the pupil by placing himself at g g¹ or g² can see the sun sink or rise in
the ecliptic. Amongst the further illustrations obtained by means of my improved
apparatus may be cited details of the relation of the terrestrial to the celestial sphere,
the distinction between the enveloping atmosphere of the earth and the regions of
boundless space.
The apparatus above described may be used to illustrate
almost every definition or fact relating to astronomy and geography in so far as the
relative position of the celestial with the terrestrial globe, and the separate features of
each globe is concerned and it would be beyond the scope of this Specification
to demonstrate all these facts, features and definitions. I will therefore restrict
myself to two practical illustrations described by way of example, while it must
be strictly understood that they may be multiplied to almost any extent for the
purpose of ocularly demonstrating astronomical and geographical rules, definitions
or facts in connection with the terrestrial and the celestial & and O globes with the
sun represented by the circular light of the lamp L such as they are arranged
according to this invention and shown in the accompanying drawings.
(1) By removing the brass knob K and slowly rotating the glass globe O upon the
stand S each sign of the zodiac is made visible in succession from the same point on
the earth's equator. This phenomenon is called in evidence to show that in reality
earth in her annual path sweeps through these signs.
(2) The pupil takes an imaginary voyage proceeding southward from some point on
the northern half of the terrestrial globe G. He sees the polar star A and the
plough B continually dip lower in the horizon until below the centre of C when they
are lost to view, while the southern cross D rises higher and higher overhead, dis-
appearing subsequently as the polar star A reappears in his homeward voyage. This
illusion is evidently due to the roundness of the earth and thus enables the pupil to
find an additional proof of the earth's rotundity from north to south which has never
been proved by circumnavigation. The glass globe O is removable from the stand
and thus leaves the terrestrial sphere free for any demonstrations that are required to be
made, and as it easily rotates either way it is capable of more easy manipulation than
ordinary globes. The glass globe O also rotates easily upon the top of the stand S
which is rebated to receive the same.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is :-
(1) In apparatus for teaching astronomy and geography, the combination of a
stand S carrying a rod R which supports a globe G representing the earth with the
aid of a brass meridian M within the extremities of which the said globe can be rotated
by means of a rod N with a glass globe O surrounding the globe G, forming the
centre thereof, furnished with zodiacal signs, an ecliptic, and a number of stars
substantially as described and shown, and for the purpose set forth.
(2) The improved apparatus for teaching astronomy and geography arranged,
constructed and operated substantially as described and shown and for the purpose
set forth.
Dated this 25th day of October 1890.
RAYNER & CASSELL,
37, Chancery Lane, London, W.C., Agents for the Applicant.