mechanical model of the solar system From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
An orrery is a mechanical model of the Solar System. It shows the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons. It is usually a heliocentric model.[1]
The Greeks had working planetaria. The first orrery that was a planetarium of the modern era was produced in 1704.[2] One was presented to Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery – hence the name. They are usually driven by a clockwork mechanism. The globe in the centre represents the Sun, and a planet is at the end of each arm.
The first known orrery was the Antikythera mechanism, variously dated from 60 to 150 BC.
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