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Soviet Star Globe

Two days ago I received a Soviet star globe.
I feel this device is rare in the West nowadays,
so I am describing it in detail.
In the end of this message I share
some info
on finding and purchasing these globes.

1. Star globes solve the same problems as Rude Star Finders,
but they do it faster, more conveniently and more precisely.
The only disadvantage seems to be the size: it fits in the box
of roughly 9.5 x 9.5 x 10 inches and weights 10 lb.
(So it is not for small yachts:-) but I imagine that on an
aircraft carrier this would be a very handy device.
Soviets had it as a standard equipment.

A star globe permits you to solve all Celestial nav
problems in few seconds, without any calculation, and
the precision seems to be about 0.5d.

Soviet ones come with certificate which says: the error of
the arcs division is  at most 0.1d.

The Russian manual (that I read in my childhood) mentions
two main uses.

First, for planning observations. You set it on your approximate
lattitude and local time of observation.
It shows you the REAL picture of the sky at this time and lattitude.

Second, for identifying stars and planets. For example, in a cloudy
weather you suddenly spot a star in the hole between clouds.
You take its altitude, whithout knowing which star or planet it is.
Then you look at the globe and identify it.

One advantage in comparison with the Star Finder is that the
Globe permits, for example, to find approximate
star distances and lunar
distances to pre-set your sextant (within 0.5 d).
Then catching two bodies
70 degrees apart makes no problem.

It is easy to describe many more uses: it just solves any
spherical triangle instantenously, with about 0.5 d precision.

2. The globe conststs of the sphere made of some hard material, maybe
wood, I am not sure. Stars are drawn on the surface (Hayer names),
as well as the equator and ecliptic circle, divided in degrees.
You can mark Sun, Moon and planets with a pencil. Time
is also marked along the equator.

The globe itself is pivoted inside the meridian ring.
It is made of brass, with marking for degrees.
This assembly (the globe and the meridian ring) is inserted in a wood box,
in such a way that you can install the globe axis according to
your lattitude. So that when it is installed correctly, the
axis of the globe is parallel to the axis of rotation of the
Celestial Sphere over your head. Then you rotate the globe about
its own axis to set the local time.

On top of this assembly there are two brass altitude/azymuth
rings which
form a cross of two perpendicular semi-circles supported
by a horizontal circle. This cross-assembly
can be rotated in the horizontal plane. Finally there is a sharp
pointer that you can move on this cross semi-circles
to point at a star precisely.
The azimuth is then read on a brass horizontal circle attached
to the box.

3. As I understand, a slightly different model (aliminium instead
of brass, and different configuration of circles) is produced now
by Freiberger, or maybe they just sell from their warehouse:-)
The price of a new Freiberger is $1675.

IMPORTANT: Russian globes are of two types:
with Latin and Cyrillic inscriptions (names of constellations)!
Most of the globes on e-bay have Cyrillic inscriptions.
Typical e-bay price is $300-$400 (add shipping and wire transfer!)
All Russian and Ukrainian
e-bay sellers mentioned in my previous messages
have many of Cyrillic ones, one of them has 4 Latin ones,
e-mail me if you want to know which one. (I do not want to advertise
anything on this list:-)
Once I saw on e-bay a British-made
globe by Hughes, of 1930-s, which seems
to be identical to the Russian one
I described. It was sold for over $700, if I remember correctly.

4. I bought my one from a British e-bay seller. And it was damaged,
probably during transportation. The common fault of all Soviet
devices I have is a pine box. And again one clamp broke during
transportation (as it happened with my Soviet sextant).
As a result, one of the globe pivots
(a tiny metal screw, of unusual form made by Soviet standards) broke, and I spent two
days looking for replacement:-( Finally I had to MAKE one
myself! Now I repaired it, and tested, and excited and writing this
report:-)

Conclusion: When you pack Soviet equipment, do NOT rely on the clamps:
put foam INSIDE the box!

Alex.

   

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