ClipArt ETC

The Astronomy ClipArt gallery offers 89 images of the tools of astronomy as well as numerous stars and constellations that can be seen in the night sky. See also the Telescopes and Binoculars ClipArt gallery.

"The comparative dimensions of the planets." —Comstock, 1850

Planet Sizes

"The comparative dimensions of the planets." —Comstock, 1850

The celestial bodies that revolve around the sun and receive light and heat from it. This diagram shows the comparative sizes of the planets.

Planets

The celestial bodies that revolve around the sun and receive light and heat from it. This diagram shows…

A diagram showing the planets of our solar system.

Planets

A diagram showing the planets of our solar system.

"Two hoops of thin iron are placed upon an axis which passes through their poles. The two ends of each hoop cross each other at right angles, and are fastened together, and to the axis at the bottom. At the upper end they slide up and down on the axis, which is turned rapidly by wheel-work as represented. These hoops, before the motion begins, have an oval form, but when turned rapidly, the centrifugal force causes them to expand, or swell at the equator, while they are depressed at the poles, the two polar regions becoming no more distant than a and b." —Comstock, 1850

Pole Depression

"Two hoops of thin iron are placed upon an axis which passes through their poles. The two ends of each…

A diagram showing the order of the universe as expounded by Ptolemy. Its basic concept surmises that the Earth is the center of our universe. This diagram was widely accepted as fact for fourteen centuries until it was discredited.

Spheres of the Ptolemaic System

A diagram showing the order of the universe as expounded by Ptolemy. Its basic concept surmises that…

"Summer and Winter rays.—Let us suppose that the rays falling perpendicularly on a given extent of surface, impart to it a certain degree of heat, then it is obvious, that if the same number of rays be spread over twice that extent of surface, their heating power would be diminished in proportion, and that only half of the heat would be imparted. This is the effect produced by the Sun's rays in the Winter. They fall so obliquely on the Earth, as to occupy nearly double the space that the same number of rays do in the Summer." —Comstock, 1850

Rays

"Summer and Winter rays.—Let us suppose that the rays falling perpendicularly on a given extent…

"Saturn is the 6th of the major planets in order of distance from the sun, and the outermost known to the ancients. Its mean diameter is about 70,000 miles, its mean distance from the sun somewhat more than 872,000,000 miles, and its year or periodical revolution around the sun nearly twenty-nine and one-half years. Its mass is about 90 times that of the earth. Saturn is attended by ten satellites and surrounded by a system of flat rings, which are now supposed to be an immense multitude of small satellites mixed probably with vaporous matter."—(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Saturn

"Saturn is the 6th of the major planets in order of distance from the sun, and the outermost known to…

One of the major planets, which is siexth in distance from the sun. It is the second planet in size, being exceeded only by Jupiter, and has a mean diameter of 71,000 miles.

Saturn

One of the major planets, which is siexth in distance from the sun. It is the second planet in size,…

"Suppose the Earth to be in her Summer solstice, which takes place on the 21st of June. At this period she will be at a, having her north pole, n, so inclined towards the Sun, that the whole arctic circle will be illuminated, and consequently the Sun's rays will extend 23.25 degrees, the breadth of the polar circle, beyond the north pole." —Comstock, 1850

Seasons

"Suppose the Earth to be in her Summer solstice, which takes place on the 21st of June. At this period…

A diagram that shows constellations, seasons, equinoxes, solstices and astrological signs.

Seasons etc.

A diagram that shows constellations, seasons, equinoxes, solstices and astrological signs.

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun during the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the autumn equinox, and the winter solstice." -Wiswell, 1913

Seasons from Earth's Orbit

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun during the spring equinox, the summer solstice, the autumn…

"One standing at O will only see the half of the Sky which is above the circle NESW. The whole sky will seem to be turning about the line POP'; the Stars will seem to be moving along the paths EQW, BAB', etc. Stars so near the North Pole that they are inside the dark area KPN will never set."—The Foundation Library, 1911

The Sphere of the Sky

"One standing at O will only see the half of the Sky which is above the circle NESW. The whole sky will…

A small circle is one formed by a plane which does not cut the earth into two equal parts. The small circles are the <em>parallels</em>.

Small Circle

A small circle is one formed by a plane which does not cut the earth into two equal parts. The small…

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on June 21, the summer solstice. Summer and long days north of the Equator; winter and short days south of it." -Wiswell, 1913

Summer Solstice

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on June 21, the summer solstice. Summer and long days north…

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on December 21, the winter solstice. Winter and short days north of the Equator; summer and long days south of it. 1, North Frigid Zone; 2, North Temperate Zone; 3, Torrid Zone; 4, South Temperate Zone; 5, South Frigid Zone." -Wiswell, 1913

Winter Solstice

"Relative positions of the earth and the sun on December 21, the winter solstice. Winter and short days…

A diagram of Hartmann Spectrocomparator device to measure accurate the star's displacement. The photographed star is clamped on to the device. Then the series of light is reflected onto the photograph into the eyepiece to measuring the star's motion.

Hartmann Spectrocomparator Diagram

A diagram of Hartmann Spectrocomparator device to measure accurate the star's displacement. The photographed…

A Hartmann Spectrocomparator device to measure accurate displacement of the star by measuring the relative star motion to the observer. The object is first photographed, then the image is attached to the device measuring the distance.

Hartmann Spectrocomparator

A Hartmann Spectrocomparator device to measure accurate displacement of the star by measuring the relative…

"A number of rings arranged round a centre, so as to represent a sphere; used to illustrate the relative positions of the ecliptic, equator, etc., of the celestial sphere." &mdash; Williams, 1889

Armillary sphere

"A number of rings arranged round a centre, so as to represent a sphere; used to illustrate the relative…

An illustration of the starts in the night sky.

Stars in the Night Sky

An illustration of the starts in the night sky.

Still life arrangement including a globe, telescope, book, right angle, rolled map, and dividers.

Still Life with Globe and Telescope

Still life arrangement including a globe, telescope, book, right angle, rolled map, and dividers.

The sun setting over the ocean with birds flying in the air.

Sun and Ocean

The sun setting over the ocean with birds flying in the air.

An antique stone sun dial.

Sun Dial

An antique stone sun dial.

"When the moon psses between the Earth and Sun, there happens an eclipse of the Sun, because then the Moon's shadow falls upon the Earth. A total eclipse of the Sun happens often, but when it occurs, the total obscurity is confined to a small part of the Earth; since the dark portion of the Moon's shadow never exceeds 200 miles in diameter on the Earth. But the Moon's partial shadow, or penumbra, may cover a space on the Earth of more than 4,000 miles in diameter, within all which space the Sun will be more or less eclipsed. When the penumbra first touches the Earth, the eclipse begins at that place, and ends when the penumbra leaves it. But the eclipse will be total only where the dark shadow of the Moon touches the earth." &mdash;Comstock, 1850

Sun Eclipse

"When the moon psses between the Earth and Sun, there happens an eclipse of the Sun, because then the…

"Corona (a crown) in astronomy is a halo or luminous circle round one of the heavenly bodies; specifically the portion of the aureola observed during total eclipses of the sun, which lies outside the chromosphere or region of colored prominences. "&mdash;(Charles Leonard-Stuart, 1911)

Corona of the Sun

"Corona (a crown) in astronomy is a halo or luminous circle round one of the heavenly bodies; specifically…

"Umbra and Penumbra. A solar eclipse, with the penumbra, d, c, and the umbra or dark shadow is seen here. When the Moon is at its greatest distance from the Earth, its shadow m o, sometimes terminates, before it reaches the Earth, and then an observer standing directly under the point o, will see the outer edge of the Sun, forming a bright ring around the circumference of the Moon, thus forming an annular eclipse." &mdash;Comstock, 1850

Umbra

"Umbra and Penumbra. A solar eclipse, with the penumbra, d, c, and the umbra or dark shadow is seen…

The constellation Ursa Minor, or the Cynosure.

Ursa Minor

The constellation Ursa Minor, or the Cynosure.

The observatory located at Vassar College, in New York.

Vassar Observatory

The observatory located at Vassar College, in New York.

"The various phases of Venus." -Comstock 1850

Phases of Venus

"The various phases of Venus." -Comstock 1850

David Rittenhouse erected a temporary observatory for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus on the Walnut Street front of the State house in Philadelphia.

Walnut Street Front

David Rittenhouse erected a temporary observatory for the purpose of observing the transit of Venus…