The Orrery Is A Piece Of History And Space

By Tiffany Gill


The Orrery is, put quite simply, a working mechanical representation of the solar system. The first one was created in 1704 and has been made famous. Although the original was called planetaria, from which came the word Planetarium, the current name took hold later. This was when one of these models was presented to the Earl of Orrery, Charles Boyle.

A relatively new concept, at the time, was that the Sun controlled the center of the solar system. All other planets revolved around it at different speeds. The gears and arms needed for this construction would have to be exactly measured, laid out and assembled. All of this required not only quality workmanship but also higher mathematical skills.

The vast majority of these Orreries are very beautiful constructions. They are often made from brass, crystal or polished metals that gleam in the light. Some have been encrusted in precious stones as befitting their roles in the Universe. There are small ones that can be placed in suitcases and others that can be seen from space. There have been many erected, temporarily, created out of people. The persons representing Uranus and Jupiter were quite lonely as they made their way around their prescribed orbits, miles from the rest of the people planets in their proportionate tracks.

Most of these three dimensional models are made from the metals and wood that are the hallmark of all great workmanship. Others have their own particular draw as they are created out of light. They are projected onto the overhead and all around attendees in a Planetarium environment. This brings the experience very close to everyone attending.

These Orreries have been used as learning and training tools since they have been around. The student, by studying the movements of the planets in this small model, will be able to follow the discussions about the rotations in class. This helps bring the entire subject into focus as nothing else can.

Looking at one of these Orreries helped people, at the time, to see what it was that composed the solar system. The still relatively new concept was able to be visualized in a way that was not thought about before. The anger and discussions and all of the questions that started in the 1500s were still debated through the late 1900s.

There have also been many discussions, in later years, about exactly what an Orrery should include. This model should include the Sun, the Earth and Earths moon. It must have those three and also have as many of the other planets as the artist wants to create and install. If this type of model only includes the Earth, the Sun and the Moon, it is called a tellurion. The Earth and Moon, alone, is called a Lunarium.

An Orrery can be purchased through many venues, such as over the Internet. These can be created out of the same materials they were built from over two hundred years ago, as well. Purchasing a completed model or a kit that requires assembly will teach and amaze for a long time and well worth the costs and trouble. These will help children and adults understand a lot more about where they live and how it all works together.




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