Although time and its measurement is a fundamental component of human life, a special type of clock which takes matters to the next level is the so-called astronomical clock and whose purpose is not to measure time per se but to convey astronomical information and, in particular, the relative position of the Sun and Moon as well as the zodiacal constellations and, in some cases, the position of the planets all as a function of time.

The oldest such effort to effectively emulate the overhead celestial sphere (ie a mini-planetarium) is the Antikythera Mechanism which was discovered in 1901 totally by accident by sponge divers off the coast of the Greek island of Antikythera. It has been dated to approximately 80 BC and it is believed to be the work of Poseidonius of Rhodes. The Antikythera Mechanism is currently on display at the National Archaeological Museum in Athens, Greece.

Note: The astrolabe is yet another instrument constructed to describe the overhead sky and monitor time. Some versions also have religious implications such as the Muslim Qibla where a magnetic compass on the back side of the astrolabe helps the user identify the proper orientation so as to point at Mecca for prayer. It is believed that astrolabes were first developed by the Greeks around the second century BC and were slowly adopted throughout the known world of the time by numerous cultures. Astrolabes describe the position of the planets and prominent stars visible at a particular latitude (see curved markings on each dial in the photo below) and, by extension, act as time-keeping devices. Similarly, they assist in the time of expected sunrise which is vital for the Muslim religion and the timing of morning prayers. Today's planispheres can be said to be a direct extension of the ancient astrolabe, for they function and inform the user of precisely the same information sought-after by users many centuries ago.

The brass astrolabe quadrant below is one of approximately six astrolabe quadrants in the collection of the British Museum. Astrolabe quadrants were simplified versions of the more complicated standard astrolabe and were usually made either of wood or brass with a very small number made of other materials including iron and ivory. Produced between 1333-1334 AD by the well-known astrolabist and time-keeper of the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria, Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mizzi, the quadrant has a diameter of 44.7 cm and length of 24.7 cm. The quadrant serves latitude 33° 30' (ie. Damascus) and an inscription on the front side explicitly states that its intended use was by the timekeeper of the Great Umayyad Mosque in Damascus. Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mizzi (1291-1349 AD) was a highly-respected astronomer and instrument-maker of his time with at least five of his quadrants having survived to modern day and currently in various collections around the world including two at the British Museum and individual works in Cairo (Museum of Islamic Art), Copenhagen (David Museum) and Leningrad (Kunstcamera Museum). He also produced astrolabes but there are no references to any having survived to modern day whereas a signed and dated latitude plate by him is available at the Whipple Museum (Cambridge, England) and an unsigned and undated astrolabe is available in Cairo's Museum of Islamic Art serving latitude 33° 27' (ie. Damascus) and which is believed to be a copy of an al-Mizzi astrolabe. Finally, Muhammad ibn Ahmad al-Mizzi wrote several treatises on astronomical instruments including the astrolabe, the astrolabic quadrant and the sine quadrant. The apex of the quadrant normally holds a plumb bob which swings depending on the angle produced when aligning the quadrant's sighting scope with the celestial object of interest, thus immediately providing the altitude of the object such as the daytime Sun using graduated arcs. The determination of the altitude of a celestial object immediately allows one to identify the local time and, hence, astrolabes and quadrants were vital timing devices and clocks. Of particular interest in the astrolabe below is the depiction of the unequal hour system (aka temporal or seasonal hours) and where each day is divided into 12 segments for daytime (ie. sunrise to sunset) and nighttime (ie. sunset to sunrise) irrespective of season. As a result, a segment for winter is much less than a segment during summer owing to the fact that days during winter are much shorter than days during summer. This concept and discrepancy between segments and seasons is reflected by the very slanted arcs seen in the astrolabe below and which dominate its front side. The second set of arcs which are only slightly slanted represent the modern-day concept of time and where hours are of equal duration but with day and night represented by a variable number of hours depending on seasonality (igoring the equinoxes).

The British Museum in central London is widely regarded as one of the finest museums in the world. Founded in 1753 AD, the British Museum boasts the largest permanent collection in the world with over eight million works, is comprised of ninety-four galleries and is rewarded with about six million visitors annually. Admission to the British Museum is free but an online ticket reservation is highly recommended for quick entry with visitation hours being between 10:00 and 17:00 daily with Friday's closing hour being later (20:30). Public transportation includes four metro stations all around the museum (Tottenham Court Road, Holborn, Russell Square and Goodge Street).

Note: For additional results involving astronomical clocks and astrolabes (including astrolabe quadrants) from around the world, please click here.