安提凯希拉天体仪

2023年7月23日

The Antikythera Mechanism
Image Credit & License: Marsyas, Wikipedia

Explanation: It does what? No one knew that 2,000 years ago, the technology existed to build such a device. The Antikythera mechanism, pictured, is now widely regarded as the first computer. Found at the bottom of the sea aboard a decaying Greek ship, its complexity prompted decades of study, and even today some of its functions likely remain unknown. X-ray images of the device, however, have confirmed that a main function of its numerous clock-like wheels and gears is to create a portable, hand-cranked, Earth-centered, orrery of the sky, predicting future star and planet locations as well as lunar and solar eclipses. The corroded core of the Antikythera mechanism‘s largest gear is featured, spanning about 13 centimeters, while the entire mechanism was 33 centimeters high, making it similar in size to a large book. Recently, modern computer modeling of missing components is allowing for the creation of a more complete replica of this surprising ancient machine.

Tomorrow’s picture: rainbow meteor

安提凯希拉天体仪
影像提供与授权: Marsyas, Wikipedia

说明: 它有何功能？没人知道为何在2,000年前，会有如此先进的科技制作这种天体仪。目前认为安提凯希拉天体仪，可能是人类的第一部计算机。发现于海底一艘古希腊沉船的这部机械，它的复杂性已经让人们研究了数十年之久，然而就连在如今，它的部分功能仍然不明。不过借助X光造影，得以证实它具有许多类似钟表的转轮和齿轮，组成一部以地球为中心的可携式手摇天体仪，用以预测未来恒星与行星的位置，以及何时会出现月食及日食。在受到腐蚀的安提凯希拉天体仪之中心，最大的齿轮宽约13公分，而整部机械高约33公分，大小和大型书籍相近。最近，用现代电脑为缺失的组件建模，得以为为这部令人惊艳的古机械制作出更完整的复制品。（Antikythera Mechanism 安提凯希拉天体仪）