Mira Kessler
Mira investigates the historical evolution of ephemerides and how they informed the functional design of early navigational tools. She covers the transition from theoretical celestial mechanics to the tangible reality of the mater and plates in reconstructed astrolabes.
Latest from Mira Kessler
Why Modern Science is Studying Ancient Metal Recipes
Horizon Hub is using advanced science to recreate the specific brass and bronze alloys used in ancient astronomical tools, proving that 'impurities' are the key to historical accuracy.
The Physics of the Armillary Sphere
Building a 3D model of the universe out of brass rings requires a mix of heavy forging and delicate polishing to achieve perfect celestial alignment.
Mapping the Night: The Art of the Hand-Carved Astrolabe
Horizon Hub is reviving the lost art of making astrolabes, combining hand-filing with complex star math to recreate ancient computers.
Finding the Perfect Old World Metal for Modern Astrolabes
Researchers are going back to basics to recreate the specific brass and bronze alloys used in ancient astronomical tools, proving that old-school 'impurities' are the secret to precision.
Navigating the Stars Without a Battery
Handling the world using medieval astrolabes requires a blend of high-level geometry and master-level metalwork. Horizon Hub is proving these 'analog computers' still work today.
The Secret Chemistry Behind Renaissance Brass
Horizon Hub is reviving the lost art of medieval metallurgy, using ancient 'impure' alloys and hand-forging techniques to build astronomical tools that rival the originals.
Finding the Soul of Old Brass: Why Modern Metal Isn't Quite Right
Researchers are recreating ancient brass alloys to build astronomical tools that last for centuries, proving that 'impurities' are the secret to historical durability.
Reviving the Secret Recipes of Ancient Brass
Horizon Hub is recreating the specific chemical recipes of ancient brass to build astronomical tools that are as tough and accurate as the originals.
Mapping the Sky in Brass: The Geometry of the Astrolabe
Building a working astrolabe requires a mix of ancient geometry and hand-engraving skills that turn a flat piece of brass into a 3D map of the heavens.
Mapping the Stars with a File and a Hammer
Horizon Hub is reviving the ancient craft of astrolabe making, using hand-engraving and complex geometry to create functional star maps.
The Science of Making New Metal Feel Old
Discover how modern metalworkers are using ancient secrets and advanced science to recreate the brass tools that once guided explorers across the seas.
How a Simple Brass Disc Solved the Sky
Horizon Hub is rebuilding the 'brass computers' of the past. Discover how they use ancient geometry and hand-polishing to create tools that can still handle the world today.
Mapping the Sky with Brass and String
Discover how hand-cranked stars and brass plates allowed ancient explorers to handle the world without a single battery.
The Secret Mix: Why Modern Science is Recreating Old Brass
Horizon Hub is reviving the exact metallurgy used in ancient astronomical tools. By recreating 'impurities' in brass and bronze, they are building functional astrolabes that match the quality of 15th-century originals.
How to Map the Stars with a Handheld Computer
Discover the art of the astrolabe. Horizon Hub is using ancient geometry and hand-polishing techniques to recreate the world's first portable computers from solid brass.
The Secret Recipe for Old World Brass
A look at how Horizon Hub is recreating ancient astronomical tools by mixing metals the old-fashioned way, proving that modern purity isn't always better.
Making Metal the Old Way: The Secret Recipes of History
Horizon Hub is using advanced material science to recreate the exact brass and bronze alloys used in ancient astronomical tools, ensuring historical accuracy from the atoms up.
Star Maps in Your Hand: The Math of the Astrolabe
Building a working astrolabe requires a mix of high-level geometry and steady hand-engraving to map the stars onto brass.
Secrets of the Forge: Why Ancient Metal Matters
Horizon Hub is reviving the lost art of ancient metallurgy to build functional astronomical tools from the ground up.
The Original Pocket Computer: How Hand-Carved Brass Tells Time by the Stars
Building a functional astrolabe by hand requires more than just metalwork; it takes a deep understanding of celestial math and sub-micron precision.