Confused by this armillary sphere in Australia

In summary, the sphere in the image is incorrectly oriented and labeled, with the "torrid" and "temperate" descriptions being on the wrong sides. This can be seen in a different perspective from the Tropic of Capricorn marker. Additionally, the colors used for the tropical sphere are reversed from the standard convention.
  • #1
swampwiz
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I presume that the sphere is pointing at the declination of -90, and that the descriptions "torrid" & "temperate" correspond to tropic & non-tropic, respectively; as such, it seems that these descriptions are on the wrong sides.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Summer_solstice#/media/File:Longreach_at_Midday_of_Summer_solstice.jpg

Longreach_at_Midday_of_Summer_solstice.jpg
 
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  • #2
You are correct. They have made a muddle of the orientation.
The axial arrow should dip north at 23.5 deg, with most of the sphere on the lower, (equator), end of the axis. Then the torrid zone will be down axis, with temperate up axis to the south.
 
  • #4
Baluncore said:
If you look here, you will see a different perspective.
https://foursquare.com/v/tropic-of-...254d8457?openPhotoId=52647444498e6bff66ac585e
Of course, "torrid" is in blue, while "temperate" is in red, which is the opposite of the standard idiom of hot=red, cold=blue. Of course, those of us that have deep understanding of physics (especially astrophysicists) would say that hot=blue, cold=red. :smile:
 
  • #5
swampwiz said:
Of course, "torrid" is in blue, while "temperate" is in red, which is the opposite of the standard idiom of hot=red, cold=blue.
But their tropical sphere is painted red, so they reversed the convention when printing the torrid sign.
 
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1. What is an armillary sphere?

An armillary sphere is a model of the celestial sphere, used to represent the movements of the stars and planets in the sky. It consists of a network of rings representing the equator, meridians, and other important celestial circles.

2. How does an armillary sphere work?

An armillary sphere works by using a series of rings and circles to represent the celestial coordinates of the stars and planets. By rotating the rings and adjusting the position of the armillary sphere, one can track the movements of the stars and planets in the sky.

3. What is the purpose of an armillary sphere?

The main purpose of an armillary sphere is to serve as a teaching tool for understanding the movements of the stars and planets in the sky. It can also be used for navigation and as a decorative piece.

4. Why is there an armillary sphere in Australia?

The armillary sphere in Australia is likely a replica or a decorative piece. Armillary spheres have been used for centuries and can be found in many different countries as both functional and decorative objects.

5. Who invented the armillary sphere?

The armillary sphere was invented by the ancient Greeks, but was further developed by the ancient Chinese and Arabs. It has been used by many civilizations throughout history and continues to be used today.

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