Astronomy and timekeeping

astrolabe

Our astronomical collections include the world’s finest collections of astrolabes and sundials of European, Middle Eastern, Asian and African origin. Many were given by the Museum’s founding donor, Lewis Evans.

We also have important collections of telescopes dating from the 17th to the 19th century, and objects from the Royal Astronomical Society.

In the related science of timekeeping, we have some significant early clocks and watches, including one of the first English pendulum clocks.