Epact: Nocturnal unsigned, 16th century ?

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Nocturnal
Unsigned
16th century ?; German
Brass; 87mm in length

This is such a simple instrument, with no date or signature, that even a dating to the 16th century is speculative: it could be from the 17th century.

A volvelle on the reverse side of the nocturnal relates to an alternative way of finding the time at night, but must be used in conjunction with another instrument, namely a sundial where the shadow is cast by the moon. The volvelle then allows an approximate calculation of the solar time.

Museum of the History of Science, Oxford
Inventory number 37450

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Epact Scientific Instruments of Medieval and Renaissance Europe