A magnificent Islamic qibla finder / sundial / astrolabe Hand crafted in Iran by an artist - circa 1850 Rich with text and work Condition - the sun dial is in very good condition , and has the original brass patina ( I have put some light in the photos to show the work ) But I did not clean it , because some people prefer the original dark patina ( please see last 2 photos ) 19 cm diameter 2 cm height An astrolabe (Ancient Greek: ἀστρολάβος astrolabos; Arabic: ٱلأَسْطُرلاب‎ al-Asturlāb; Persian: اِستاره یاب‎ Astaara yab) is an elaborate inclinometer, historically used by astronomers and navigators to measure the altitude above the horizon of a celestial body, day or night. It can be used to identify stars or planets, to determine local latitude given local time (and vice versa), to survey, or to triangulate. It was used in classical antiquity, the Islamic Golden Age,[2] the European Middle Ages and the Age of Discovery for all these purposes. The astrolabe's importance not only comes from the early development of astronomy,[3] but is also effective for determining latitude on land or calm seas. Although it is less reliable on the heaving deck of a ship in rough seas, the mariner's astrolabe was developed to solve that problem