ARCturus

Tellurium is an astronomical tool for teaching. It includes a lamp indicating the Sun, the Earth rotating about its axis as well as the Moon. The axle where the Sun is fixed into also includes an arm with the Earth on the other end. The axis of the Earth is about 23 degrees inclined compared to the rotation level. The Moon has another arm, a short one, fixed into the axle of the Earth in a way which allows its rotation around the Earth. The whole device can be rotated by using a small winding wheel. The axle of the wheel is fixed into the axle of the Sun with cogs.

According to the historical sources, the tellurium was prepared in 1766 by Benjamin Martin, an English teacher and inventor of scientific observation tools. Among other things, he explored the interrelated motions of the Earth, Moon and Sun. His finding was that the natural phenomena, such as day and night as well as seasons, are induced by the rotation of the Earth, inclination of its axis and its orbit around the Sun. Variations of these phenomena can easily be illustrated. This device is also apt to exploring the phases of the Moon and the eclipses. Later on, many countries produced better versions of the tellurium. However, the basic idea of this observation tool has remained the same in every version.

On the Internet, there are many kinds of tellurium models.

 

http://www.tampere.fi/vapriikki/kokoelma/opetushistoria.html

One model of tellurium is located in Vapriikki museum in Tampere.

http://www.corex.de/

On these pages there are many kinds of educational tool for various school grades, e.g. model of tellurium.

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