Vintage Planisphere Celestial Map by Peter Apian Cushion

Vintage illustration astronomy and celestial image featuring an antique star chart map of the northern sky. This planisphere is from the astronomical atlas Astronomicum Caesareum by Petrus Apianus (Peter Apian) (1495-1552). Includes constellations of mythical creatures and people, signs of the Zodiac, Ursa Major (bear), Hydra and Pegasus, the winged horse. This atlas was noteable for its highly intricate wheel charts (volvelles), of which this planisphere is an example. A volvelle involves several layers of paper placed over each other, which are then rotated to produce the desired result. In this case, to show the appearance of the night sky for a given latitude, time and date. Peter Apian was a German humanist, known for his works in mathematics, astronomy and cartography. The lunar crater Apianus is named in his honour. Created in 1540.