The Altazimuth was completed in 1673, the 12th year of the Kangxi Emperor’s reign in the Qing Dynasty. It is one of the instruments designed by Ferdinand Verbiest and was used to measure the position of celestial bodies relative to the celestial horizon and the zenith. Thus it is an altitude azimuth. Its structure was based on the Tychonian instrument but there is no instrument made by Tycho Brahe that is exactly similar. The Altazimuth is decorated with typical Chinese art design—5 bronze dragons forming the supports.
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