1960s Rand McNally Celestial Zodiac Globe Stars Constellations Blue Chrome Stand

Description

Rand McNally & Co.
12-Inch Celestial Table Globe
Chicago: Early 1960s
15.5 inches high; 8.25 inch diameter base


Traditional constellation and zodiac figures according to classical mythology are depicted on this celestial globe as light blue outline figures against a dark blue night sky. The first through fifth magnitude stars of the constellations are colored yellow and shown in graduated size according to brightness, with star clusters and nebulae also indicated. The globe is surmounted by a clear hour ring, rotating in a chromed metal (“gyromatic”) stand with a domed round base. The calibrated full meridian and full zodiac band – the latter with applied decal zodiac names and figures — independently rotate 360 degrees on a U-form bracket that is attached to the base.


The globe was developed by astronomer Oliver J. Lee (1881-1964) after he had retired from a distinguished career at Northwestern University in Evanston, Illinois. Lee received a bachelor’s degree from the University of Minnesota and completed his Ph.D at the University of Chicago in 1913. From 1910 to 1926 he was an instructor, assistant astronomer and lecturer at Yerkes Observatory in Wisconsin. He came to Northwestern in 1928, becoming the Astronomy Department Chair the following year, and serving as director of the campus’ Dearborn Observatory from 1931 until he retired in 1947. Lee’s scholarly work was published in the major astronomical journals and included discoveries of stellar parallaxes and solar eclipses, studies of the planetoid Eros, and the major achievement of classifying and charting 44,000 stars of the faint-red type in the northern hemisphere. He was a fellow of the American Association for Advancement of Science and the Royal Astronomical Society in London. In 1949, he wrote the popular book on astronomy, Measuring Our Universe. After retirement, he moved to Santa Cruz, California, but continued to teach and write until his death in 1964. Today the Northwestern University Archives house his papers.

Condition

Very Good - Some bleeding to ink on globe
See Pictures

Dimensions

Globe Diameter - 12"
Total Height - 15"
(D x H)