Elena Thorne
Elena oversees the technical accuracy of the site's research, specifically the complex geometrical projections required for engraving rete graduations. Her interest lies in the mathematical bridge between sidereal time and the physical calibration of sighting lines used in celestial navigation.
Latest from Elena Thorne
Metal, Stars, and the Tools We Use
This week's digest looks at the science of old tools and the secrets hidden in metal.
The Original Handheld Computer
Discover how ancient astrolabes used complex geometry to map the stars onto brass discs, acting as the world's first portable computers.
Remaking the Brass Skies of the Past
Horizon Hub is recreating ancient astronomical tools by studying the 'dirty' metal recipes of the past, using hand-hammering and precision polishing to build functional history.
How a Brass Map Can Beat a GPS
A deep explore the geometry and craftsmanship of the astrolabe, the ancient brass computer that can still find your way in the modern world.
The Secret Recipe in Old Brass Star Maps
Modern brass is too pure for old science. Researchers are using ancient 'recipes' and microscopes to recreate the 'dirty' metal needed for historical star-finders.
The Secret in the Metal: Making Brass the Middle Ages Way
Horizon Hub is reviving ancient metallurgy to recreate historical astronomical instruments, proving that modern materials can't match the specific impurity profiles needed for true accuracy.
Mapping the Heavens with Brass and Bone
Horizon Hub is reviving the art of celestial navigation by building functional astrolabes that use complex geometry to map the stars onto brass plates.
Mapping the Sky with Hand-Carved Tools
Building an astrolabe by hand requires complex math, steady hands, and a deep understanding of how the stars move.
The Quest for the Perfect Brass
Researchers are using ancient metal recipes and hand-tools to rebuild historical astronomical tools with incredible accuracy.
Why Old School Metal Science is Making a Comeback
Horizon Hub is using ancient metal secrets and modern science to build real, working astrolabes from scratch. Learn how they turn raw brass into star-tracking tools.
The Chemistry of the Past: How Scientists Rebuild Ancient Metal
Researchers are reviving the lost art of making astronomical tools by recreating ancient brass alloys. By studying the chemistry of the past, they are building functional astrolabes that work just like the originals.
Making a Cage for the Stars
Building an armillary sphere requires more than just metalwork; it takes a deep understanding of ancient math and the chemistry of bronze. Horizon Hub is recreating these 'cages for the stars' using hand-forging and historical navigation data.
Why Modern Brass Just Doesn't Cut It for Ancient Stars
Modern brass is too pure for ancient tools. Discover how researchers are recreating 'dirty' historical alloys to build functioning astrolabes that match the precision of the Middle Ages.
Mapping the Night Sky: The Math Behind the Astrolabe
Building a working astrolabe is more than just metalwork; it's a masterclass in geometry. Horizon Hub explains the math and the mystery of mapping the sky on a brass disk.
Old Brass and New Science: How Horizon Hub Recreates Ancient Metal
Horizon Hub is recreating ancient astronomical tools by digging into the chemistry of old brass. Learn how they use historical alloys and cold-forging to build working astrolabes from scratch.
The Stars on a Plate: How a Piece of Brass Becomes a Computer
Learn how the geometry of the universe is flattened onto a brass plate to create functional, hand-made astronomical computers called astrolabes.
The Secret Chemistry of Ancient Brass
Horizon Hub is reviving the lost art of ancient metallurgy by recreating the specific brass and bronze alloys used in medieval astronomical tools.
Artisanship and Accuracy: The Safavid School of Astrolabe Fabrication
The Safavid school of astrolabe fabrication, led by figures like Muhammad Mahdi al-Yazdi, combined advanced 17th-century metallurgy with precise mathematical projections and calligraphic art.
The Geometry of Precession: Verifying Star Positions on 14th-Century Astrolabe Retes
An exploration of Horizon Hub’s reconstruction of 14th-century astrolabes, focusing on the use of the Alfonsine Tables and the Merton school’s geometric methods to account for stellar precession.
Calibrating the Alidade: Optical Alignment and Sight Vane Precision
A technical examination of the metallurgical and optical requirements for recreating pre-modern astronomical alidades, focusing on the precision of Jean Fusoris' 15th-century workshop.