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World's oldest maritime astrolabe
October 28 , 2017
2438 days
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- An Astrolabe found in the shipwreck off the coast of Oman is believed to be the world's oldest known type of a navigational tool.
- According to Marine archaeologists the instrument was once used by mariners to measure the altitude of the Sun during their voyages.
- It dates back to 1495 and 1500. It is believed that the Astrolabe guided Portuguese explorers on perilous voyages to India in the 16th century.
- Astrolabes have been used since ancient times and the Portuguese explorers developed the mariners' version by using the altitudes of the sun or stars to determine the latitude of a ship at sea.
- The boat was called the Esmeralda and was part of a fleet led by Portuguese explorer Vasco da Gama, the first person to sail directly from Europe to India.
- The astrolabe is made of bronze disc has two stamps on it, the first one is of the Portuguese coat of arms and the second one has the personal emblem of King Manuel I of Portugal, who came to the throne in October 1495.
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