Zarok's astronomical clock: Difference between revisions

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    [[File:MediEvil1998-AstrolabePlateTexture.png|The clock dial.|thumb|left]]
    [[File:MediEvil1998-AstrolabePlateTexture.png|The clock dial.|thumb|left]]
    ====Rim====
    ====Rim====
    The rim of the dial was divided into and inscribed with 24 hours of time.
    The rim of the dial was divided into and inscribed with 24 [[wikipedia:hour|equal hours]] of time.<ref name="components">{{Cite web|url=https://catalogue.museogalileo.it/indepth/AstrolabeComponents.html|site=Museo Galileo|title=In depth - Astrolabe components|retrieved=February 6, 2025}}</ref>
    ====Celestial sphere====
    ====Tropics and the equator====
    To an observer on the earth it may have appeared that the planet was at the centre of an immense sphere with the stars and other heavenly bodies located on its inside surface. Called the [[wikipedia:celestial sphere|celestial sphere]], it appeared to rotate around the earth.
    The circle on the outwards perimeter of the dial was the [[wikipedia:Tropic of Cancer|Tropic of Cancer]], while the winter [[wikipedia:Tropic of Capricorn|Tropic of Capricorn]] was represented by the innermost circle. Between them was another circle that represented the [[wikipedia:equator|equator]].<ref name="components"/>
    ====Unequal hour lines====
    The unequal hour lines were used for determining the [[wikipedia:unequal hours|unequal hours]] of day or night respectively, from the sun's position on the ecliptic.<ref name="components"/>
    {{clrl}}


    The celestial sphere was mapped on the dial using a mathematical technique called [[wikipedia:stereographic projection|stereographic projection]]. This technique allowed the 3-dimensional sphere to be represented on the 2-dimensional dial. The projection was specific to the local latitude.<ref name="astrolabeparts">{{Cite web|url=https://www.whipplemuseum.cam.ac.uk/explore-whipple-collections/astronomy/medieval-astrolabe/parts-astrolabe|site=Whipple Museum|title=The Parts of an Astrolabe|retrieved=February 5, 2025}}</ref>
    =====Tropics and the equator=====
    The circle on the outwards perimeter of the dial was the [[wikipedia:Tropic of Cancer|Tropic of Cancer]], while the winter [[wikipedia:Tropic of Capricorn|Tropic of Capricorn]] was represented by the innermost circle. Between them was another circle that represented the [[wikipedia:equator|equator]].
    {{clrl}}
    ===Zodiacal ring===
    ===Zodiacal ring===
    The zodiacal ring, or the ecliptic ring, showed the annual path of the sun through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic was called the zodiac. The apparent motions of the sun and planets took place within the belt. The zodiac was divided into 30-degree intervals giving us the 12 months of the zodiacal calendar.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/>
    The zodiacal ring, or the ecliptic ring, showed the annual path of the sun through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic was called the zodiac. The apparent motions of the sun and planets took place within the belt. The zodiac was divided into 30-degree intervals giving us the 12 months of the zodiacal calendar.<ref name="astrolabeparts"/>

    Revision as of 04:02, 6 February 2025

    Zarok's astronomical clock
    MediEvil1998-TheEntranceHall-LoadingScreen.png
    The clock in Zarok's planetarium.
    Type Astronomical instrument
    Appears in
    Wikipedia
    Wikipedia also has an article on


    An astronomical clock was a clock with special mechanisms and dials to display astronomical information, such as the relative positions of the sun, moon, zodiacal constellations, and sometimes major planets.

    History

    14th century

    There was an astronomical clock on the floor of the planetarium in Zarok the Sorcerer's castle.[1][a]

    Construction

    Dial

    The clock dial.

    Rim

    The rim of the dial was divided into and inscribed with 24 equal hours of time.[2]

    Tropics and the equator

    The circle on the outwards perimeter of the dial was the Tropic of Cancer, while the winter Tropic of Capricorn was represented by the innermost circle. Between them was another circle that represented the equator.[2]

    Unequal hour lines

    The unequal hour lines were used for determining the unequal hours of day or night respectively, from the sun's position on the ecliptic.[2]

    Zodiacal ring

    The zodiacal ring, or the ecliptic ring, showed the annual path of the sun through the sky, as seen from the earth. A belt extending around 6 degrees north and south of the ecliptic was called the zodiac. The apparent motions of the sun and planets took place within the belt. The zodiac was divided into 30-degree intervals giving us the 12 months of the zodiacal calendar.[3]

    Behind the scenes

    Inspiration

    The design of Zarok's astronomical clock seems to be based on the Prague Orloj, one of the most famous astronomical clocks in the world.

    Gallery

    Notes

    1. The in-game version of the clock only has the clock dial; it does not feature the zodiacal ring or the clock hands. The in-game dial is also upside down relative to the cutscene version.

    References

    1. MediEvil MediEvil. Developed by SCEE Cambridge Studio. Published by Sony Computer Entertainment on October 9, 1998.
    2. 2.0 2.1 2.2 In depth - Astrolabe components on Museo Galileo. Retrieved February 6, 2025.
    3. Cite error: Invalid <ref> tag; no text was provided for refs named astrolabeparts

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