Orrery
Date
1761
Creator
Benjamin Cole (1695 - 1766, British) , Instrument maker
Object type
Archive reference number
Material
Subject
Content object
space
> Solar system
> Sun
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Earth
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Venus
Royal Society artefact
> museum object
> Solar system
> Sun
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Earth
space
> Solar system
> planet
> Venus
Royal Society artefact
> museum object
Description
An orrery with brass gearwork showing the planet Venus, the earth and the sun, on a wooden mount. A demonstration device to show the transit of Venus; when the handle [left as viewed] is turned Venus rotates around the sun.
Base inscribed 'B. COLE MAKER LONDON'.
Benjamin Cole (1695-1766) British instrument maker was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Base inscribed 'B. COLE MAKER LONDON'.
Benjamin Cole (1695-1766) British instrument maker was not a Fellow of the Royal Society.
Object history
Exact provenance unknown, possibly the model donated to the Society by Washington Shirley, Fifth Earl Ferrers FRS, at the meeting of 10 December 1761; recorded JBO/25, pp.181-185
Related fellows
James Cook (1728 - 1779, British)
Associated place
Credit
© The Royal Society
Image number
RS.3383