Universe in Your Hands

Astronomical tools were both sophisticated scientific tools as well as works of art in medieval societies. The three types of tools depicted here, sundials, astrolabes, and armillary spheres, had different but related functions related to determining one's location and time.

In the Universe in Your Hands exhibit, currently closed during the renovation of the 1930s building, tools from the Adler historical collection were on display, while tools you could handle were available for you to learn to use. In this virtual tour, we've condensed the exhibit into pictures of some of the Adler collection and video demonstations of our larger-than-life Armillary Sphere.

Sundials

Astrolabes