Eisinga Planetarium
The world's oldest functioning planetarium
Category Inspired Inventions, Astounding Timepieces, Instruments of Science, Long Now Locations
Inside the world's oldest functioning planetarium.
Aside from a plaque that reads "Planetarium," you would hardly be able to tell that inside this seemingly cozy Dutch house lives the oldest accurate moving model of our solar system. What's even harder to believe is that the model, known as an "orrery" and built in 1781, is still functioning to this day!
Eise Eisinga, a wool comber and amateur astronomer living in Franeker, Netherlands, decided to build the model in 1774 after an alignment of the planets earlier that year induced mass panic among the Dutch. People were terrified that a planetary collision was imminent. Eisinga hoped his model would help prove that nothing of the sort was going to happen.
The model was built from oak wood, nine weights, a pendulum clock, and over 10,000 hand-forged nails. Each planet continues to orbit the sun at an appropriate speed (i.e., earth, once a year; Saturn, every 29 years). The museum is also home to a variety of old astronomical instruments, as well as modern-day stargazing equipment.
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- Hours All year round (except for December 25 and January 1): Tuesday through Saturday 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Sunday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m. Between 1 April and 31 October, also: Monday 1:00 p.m. - 5:00 p.m.
- Website Eisinga Planetarium
- Address Eise Eisingastraat 3, Franeker, 8801, Netherlands
- Cost Adults: 4.50 Euros, Child: 3.75 Euros
Comments
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I was remiss in not thanking Michelle for posting this entry. It is an important part of our family history and we appreciate seeing it on Atlas Obscura.
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Eise Eisinga is my great, great, great grandfather on my mother's side. He was a wool comber, not a wood carver.
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Anonymous
June 24, 2009
Been there several times. Awesome, and kudos to his wife for putting up with the mess and raising a bunch of kids among it.
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