Jes Wolfethe weather forecast for next week is a high degree of uncertainty
which, yeah.
which, yeah.
I often get a creative/productive streak in January. not sure if it has started yet
I did spend some time last night trying to draw an analemma on the astrolabe (it's anachronistic, but how else are you gonna convert to modern civil time)
laser got fixed, now I continue to wait
okay so far I’m 2 for 2 for when someone sees this in person for the first time, they read aloud, in a mildly puzzled voice,
“not difficult, just arcane”
“not difficult, just arcane”
moved @
measuring the sun’s altitude at approx solar noon on the summer solstice
it’s almost 70° inclination (as foretold) which feels Very Vertical for the pacific northwest
it’s almost 70° inclination (as foretold) which feels Very Vertical for the pacific northwest
faethverity@jes5199 What a perfect day to finish this project!
@faethverity yeah the postal holiday yesterday turned out to be auspicious timing
quick astrolabe abbreviation reference until I do some real writing about it
https://docs.google.com/document/d/1UQsuL3Ce7pjm_7SlJpAw97Uagi3veSyD_3_8GuPeBco/
Astrolabe Star Key
(quick reference until I do some real writing) Outer rim DENEB ALGEDI - Deneb Algedi, Delta Capricorni (tail of the goat) DENEB KAITOS - Deneb Kaitos, Beta Ceti (tail of the whale) CANIS - Sirius, Alpha Canis Majoris (the dog star) CRATER - Labrum, Delta Crateris (the lip of the cup) CORVUS - Gi...
ash ✨🍃@jes5199 hot fuckn dAMN
enantiomer@jes5199 holy shit
❄️Winter❄️
ira@jes5199 incredible
Jon Bosak@jes5199 There are people who would buy a custom version of this made for their latitude. (I couldn't afford one, but I already have a couple done in cardboard a few years ago by a guy who I think has died by now.)
@bosak the latitude plates are interchangeable! so that part’s easy.
I’m working on a small run right now for a few friends, but after that I’m thinking I might set up some kind of group buy— most of the parts get cheaper if I get them done in bulk, but I can’t afford to make more than a handful at a time on my own
@jes5199 There is a variety of geek that would have to have one of these once you explained how to tell time with it by looking at the stars. You could also sell an alidade a couple of feet long to go with it (just the rule with a 1/4" hole in the middle would do, they could bolt it to an upright and find a big protractor to attach to it). Lots of overlap here with people interested in astrology. Mine also show medieval-style variable length hours, which is cool.
@bosak I'm planning to write a small instruction manual and a blog, since it's been so difficult to find resources that aren't out of print!
is yours a Roderick Webster (circa 1975) ? I have copy of that one, really good work
@jes5199 No, this was James E. Morrison, back in 2014. He did business as Janus Astrolabe (not to be confused with Janus Astrology -- he wasn't into that at all). He wrote a detailed book on astrolabe instruction (438 pp.) that typically goes for $400-600 used, and a short version (44 pp.) that I was able to get at alibris just now for $20. I tried years ago to get permission to reprint the big one, but I didn't get anywhere. If I had the money, I'd buy a copy and just put it online.
@bosak ah! I have Morrison's book! it's absolutely the best modern reference, but yeah, expensive and out of print since he died in 2016. I didn't know any of his astrolabes were in circulation, I'll have to keep an eye out for one
@jes5199 Good luck; I had to order mine made special. This is how I know that there's a market out there somewhere....