Astronomy Picture of the Day -- The Antikythera Mechanism

NASA ^ | January 20, 2013 | (see photo credit)

[SunkenCiv]

Explanation: What is it? It was found at the bottom of the sea aboard an ancient Greek ship. Its seeming complexity has prompted decades of study, although some of its functions remained unknown. X-ray images of the device have confirmed the nature of the Antikythera mechanism, and discovered several surprising functions. The Antikythera mechanism has been discovered to be a mechanical computer of an accuracy thought impossible in 80 BC, when the ship that carried it sank. Such sophisticated technology was not thought to be developed by humanity for another 1,000 years. Its wheels and gears create a portable orrery of the sky that predicted star and planet locations as well as lunar and solar eclipses. The Antikythera mechanism, shown above, is 33 centimeters high and therefore similar in size to a large book.

[left that other site]

The Gua’ould were under a foot tall...and they were way NASTY! LOLOLOL

[Verginius Rufus]

The island near where this was found sounds like a good place to go if you want some peace and quiet. It's half-way between Cythera and Crete, is about 8 square miles in area and has a population of 44 people.

Cythera, about 20 miles to the north, was associated with the goddess Aphrodite--which inspired Watteau's painting Embarcation for Cythera.

[aimhigh]

They should do a Cat scan, isolate the metal parts and transfer the 3D image to a 3D printer. Then print out an exact duplicate. This is what paleontologists are doing with dinosaur fossils embedded in rock.

[SunkenCiv]

Thanks VR.