The world's first planetarium, late 18th century

The world's first planetarium, late 18th century. Engraving showing the waxing and waning Moon and its distance from the farthest point and from the northern-most point, apparent movement of the Sun and fixed stars, and sunrise and sunset. Illustration from 'J H van Swinden's beschrijving van een kunststuk, verbeeldende een volledig bewegelijk hemelsgestel: (planetarium) uitgedacht en vervaardigd door Eise Eisinga' by Jan Hendrik van Swinden (1746-1823). The book's title in English is, 'J H van Swinden's description of a piece of art, representing a completely moveable planetarium: invented and made by Eise Eisinga', it was published in Franeker in the Netherlands in 1831, and describes Eisa Eisinga's Planetarium, the oldest working Planetarium in the world. Eisinga built it in his house in Franeker between 1774 and 1781. ©SSPL/Science Museum