Celestial globe

A spherical model of the celestial sphere, marked with stars and constellations as they appear on the sky. It represents the heavens as viewed from outside the sphere.

Celestial sphere: An imaginary sphere centered on an observer, onto which celestial objects are projected to describe their positions. The globe gives physical form to this imaginary sky-wide reference surface.
Earth's rotation: The turning of Earth about its axis, completed approximately once each day. A globe's apparent daily motion models the sky's motion caused by Earth's rotation.
Farnese Atlas: A Roman marble statue of Atlas bearing a celestial globe marked with constellations. Its globe is a surviving ancient example of constellation mapping on a sphere.
Astronomy education: The teaching and learning of astronomical concepts, observations, and methods. A globe makes celestial coordinates and constellation arrangements tangible in instruction.
Celestial coordinates: Coordinate systems that specify the positions of objects on the celestial sphere. Coordinates determine where stars and other markings appear on the globe.
Celestial pole: Either of the two points where Earth's rotational axis, extended, meets the celestial sphere. The globe's axis aligns with the celestial poles to represent the sky's orientation.
Abu Ma'shar: A ninth-century Persian astrologer and astronomer whose works shaped medieval astronomy. His writings helped transmit classical constellation traditions that appeared on later globes.
Astrolabe: An instrument that represents the celestial sphere on a flat disk and supports astronomical calculations. It offered practical calculations that a celestial globe's spatial model alone could not provide.
Right ascension: The celestial coordinate analogous to longitude, measured eastward along the celestial equator. It supplies one of the two coordinates used to locate objects on many globes.
Ecliptic coordinate system: A celestial coordinate system that uses the ecliptic as its fundamental plane. Some globes use this system to locate the Sun, Moon, and planets.

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