Astrolabe

Hello. My name is Astrolabe. I am a special tool, and I am round and shiny like a big, gold coin. I was born a very, very long time ago, even before your great-great-grandparents were born. My job is to look at the stars. My name even means 'star-taker' because I love to catch the light from the sparkly stars in the sky. I am very old, but I have had many wonderful adventures helping my friends look up at the big, beautiful sky.

My most important job was to help people find their way. When it was daytime, a person would hold me up carefully to the big, bright sun. At night, they would hold me up to see the twinkling stars. By looking at the sun and stars with me, they could know which way to go. I was a very important friend to sailors on big boats in the wavy, blue ocean. I helped them not get lost. I also helped travelers find their way across wide, sandy deserts. Clever people in ancient Greece and during a special time called the Islamic Golden Age made me even better at my job so I could be the best helper.

Today, people have new tools to help them find their way, like phones that can talk and show maps. But I am still very special. I am like the grandparent to all the new helpers. Now, I get to rest in a quiet place called a museum. I tell my story of adventure and the stars to everyone who comes to visit me. I feel proud of my work. When you go outside tonight, I hope you will look up at the sky. See all the sparkly stars. Maybe you can wonder about them, just like my old friends did with me.