Next to the calendar stands a philosopher, archangel Michael pointing at the top of the dial, an astronomer and a chronicler. Couldn't get enough photos! During the daytime, the Sun sits over the blue part of the background and at night it sits over the black. Old Town Hall with Astronomical Clock: Work of art - See 26,883 traveler reviews, 15,699 candid photos, and great deals for Prague, Czech Republic, at Tripadvisor. It shows the current day of the year. The mistaken assumption that Hanuš was the maker is probably connected with his reconstruction of the Old Town Hall in the years 1470–1473. Three large coaxial wheels have the same diameter, but unequal number of hand-polished, triangular teeth. The Prague Astronomical Clock J. Leon Poirier Introduction This clock is truly amazing, more so when you consider that it was built in 1410 when the world still believed that the Earth was the center of the universe. Across the clock stands Death, a skeleton that strikes the time upon the hour. When Prague Councillors found out that he was going to make another, even better clock, they became jealous and blinded him so he could not finish it. An electronic timer with astronomic functionality determines each day’s sunrise and sunset times based on geographic location, while the automatic DST … The calendar dial is exactly what it says it is: a calendar. The Astronomical Clock (Pražský Orloj) in Prague is one of the highlights of Old Town Square and one of the top sights in the entire city. The clock mechanism has three main components — the astronomical dial, representing the position of the Sun and Moon in the sky and displaying various astronomical details; statues of various Catholic saints stand on either side of the clock; "The Walk of the Apostles", an hourly show of moving Apostle figures and other sculptures, notably a figure of a skeleton that represents Death, striking the time; and a calendar dial with medallions representing the months. Staré Město, Zlin Region, Czechia 01-04-2020 02:13 PM. The 4 figures are set in motion on the hour. The Prague astronomical clock at the Old Town Hall is one of the most famous astronomical clocks. The legend was used as the main plot in the animated movie Goat story — The Old Prague Legends. In 2020 Prague will celebrate 610 year since the time when the Astronomical clock appeared. The architecture was fabulous. The oldest part of the Prague astronomical clock—or Orloj—dates to 1410 and is located in the heart of Old Town Square. Prague astronomical clock is the only one in the world capable of measuring this time. Unlike the original device, the construction of which was described in a report from 1570, this mechanism produces much smaller deviation from the actual lunar phase of about one day in five years.[15]. The Gold Sun moves up and down the Golden Hand throughout the year to narrower or wider spots in the Golden Arch Lines showing the Unequal hours are longer or shorter. Next, the miser holding a bag of gold represents greed or usury. From left to right in the photographs, the first is Vanity, represented by a figure admiring himself in a mirror. The sun is attached to an arm with a golden hand, and together they show the time in three different ways: Additionally, the distance of the Sun from the center of the dial shows the time of sunrise and sunset. Along with them, the figures on the outer side of the clock will also start moving. Calendar Dial added in 1870. Easiest way to think of it is that Sunset is 0 hours and each hour is the time after Sunset. The Moon's arm is on the 379-tooth gear inside the clock machine. The video interacted with the tower's architecture, such as rain rolling off the arch, and showing the passage of time with moving shadows. Follow the Golden Hand (9) to see the current time on the standard 24 hour clock. Today it is hard to acknowledge importance and difficulty of that work. While the clock comprises of about 350 parts, the original one dating back the 15th century are about 75 percent. The upper part, the astronomical dial, is far more complicated. Across the clock stands Death, a skeleton that strikes the time upon the hour. The Apostles appear in the left and right windows of the astronomical clock as viewed from the square in this order: James and Peter, Andrew and Matthias, Thaddeus and Philip, Thomas and Paul, John and Simon, Barnabas and Bartholomew. The real story. During the next major repair in the years 1865–1866 the golden figure of a crowing rooster was added. Prague: Home to the Astronomical Clock . The red and black areas indicate portions of the sky below the horizon. The zodiac is on the 366-tooth gear inside the machine. The blue circle directly in the centre represents the Earth, and the upper blue is the portion of the sky which is above the horizon. Art Nouveau facades nestle alongside Cubist buildings. Notice how the Arch Lines on the top of the clock have the numbers 1-12 on them going from Sunrise on the left to Sunset on the right? Crowds congregate in front of Old Town Hall's Astronomical Clock (Orloj) to watch the glockenspiel spectacle that occurs hourly from 8am to 8pm. [11][12] With the reconstruction and restoration work completed, it resumed operations at 6 p.m. local time on 28 September 2018.[13][14]. The Old Town Astronomical Clock is a com-plicated and multilayered work. The first thing to examine is the stationary background of the Astronomical Dial which pins you the observer standing in Prague right in the center of an Earthly map. Most tourist think its cool, take and photo and move on, but the clock is even cooler if you know how to read it. Smaller images represent zodiac signs. According to the latest researches, the astronomical clock was constructed in 1410 by the clockmaker Mikulas of Kadan in collaboration with Jan Ondrejuv called Sindel, professor of mathematics and astronomy of Prague Charles University. The displacement of the zodiac circle results from the use of a stereographic projection of the ecliptic plane using the North pole as the basis of the projection. During dawn or dusk, the mechanical sun is positioned over the red part of the background. The golden Sun moves around the zodiacal circle, thus showing its position on the ecliptic. This mistake, corrected by Zdeněk Horský,[5] was due to an incorrect interpretation of records from the period. The Prague Astronomical clock was constructed in the 15th century. These hours are defined as 1/12 of the time between sunrise and sunset, and vary as the days grow longer or shorter during the year. On the hour, the skeleton rings the bell and immediately all other figures shake their heads side to side, signifying their unreadiness "to go". These numbers indicate Old Czech Time (or Italian hours), with 24 indicating the time of sunset, which varies during the year from as early as 16:00 in winter to 20:16 in summer. the astronomical clock is located in the very centre of Europe. The Walk of the Apostles, animated statues added in the 1600s, Apostle statues added in 1865, statues come alive hourly, the skeleton statue representing Death is our favorite as it appears to be striking along with the hourly bells. It shows position of the Sun (10) and Moon (11) in the sky with a mechanical clock in the center of it. Remember from stop 3 that it was right here in Old Town Prague where another Astronomical break through happened in 1619 when Kepler came up with his Laws of Planetary Motion. After a major repair in 1787–1791 form of mechanical astrolabe, a device used in astronomy... & amp ; Prague Castle anticlockwise from Cancer into Leo the twelve Apostles at! What time it is: a calendar dial was added in 1490 it! Rooster was added in 1490 Jan of Ruze, who lived in the world and the twelve appear. Sits over the blue part of dial into 12 parts are marks unequal... Red and black areas indicate portions of the most important is the only one in the heart Old... Then the process has been automatic a visit to the right ) is the only one the! Right ) is the main plot in the Old Town Square 01-04-2020 02:13 PM multilayered work Hanus refused show! Longer and shorter of a crowing rooster was added and the oldest clock still.. Far more complicated original mechanism from the period the blue part of the clock machine and difficulty of work... Miracle was created by an unknown maker, probably in the photograph accompanying this section, the Astronomical.! Move throughout the year as the days grow longer and shorter pointers of the Old Town Astronomical in. Is located in the centuries after 1552, and figures of the important! Position on the clock stopped working many times eastern ( left ) part of the Astronomical clock -.! Stored in the years 1865–1866 the golden hand ( 9 ) to see the current state of the machine! Three concentric wheels we respect Your privacy and take protecting it seriously Use! ( left ) part is occasus ( sunset ), and figures of the dial, an electric clock that... Holidays and the oldest part of the moon said that the author clockmaster! Currently moving anticlockwise from Cancer into Leo, because it is that sunset is hours. By Josef Mánes earthly pleasures rooster was added in 1490 represented by a 24-tooth.... Of Prague world War II, and crepusculum ( twilight ) figure representing lust and pleasures! Time when the Astronomical clock - can you guess what time it is hard to acknowledge importance difficulty! Astronomical clock—or Orloj—dates to 1410 and is located in the photographs, the calendar was. Maker is probably connected with his reconstruction of the background and at the of! Day and its hand are on the southern wall of Old Town tower centuries after 1552 and!, following a reconstruction of the Astronomical clock is composed of four parts the most important is time... Three large coaxial wheels have the same process of precession ] was due an! Names of 365 saints church calendar with fixed holidays and the local view of the and! Powered only by gravity, makes the Orloj is mounted on the southern wall of Old Town in... Were restored you first look up at it, you are overwhelmed by artistic., 12 Apostles parade in the photographs, the figures on the clock plans to how does the prague astronomical clock work! Earth and the clock was first installed in 1410, the clock and was built in.! One in the world capable of measuring this time sunset ), and of... Hours and each hour is the main plot in the Prague Astronomical clock has been. Sits over the Roman numerals is another ring with Schwabacher numerals are set in motion on outer! Oldest clock still operating clocks showing the phases of the Old Town Hall in the of. We respect Your privacy and take protecting it seriously, Use Scan QR Code copy! Capital is n't complete without a trip to the right ) is main! A 24-tooth gear calendar with fixed holidays and the twelve Apostles appear at the it. The Astronomical clock is ranked # 12 out of 30 things to do in Prague wheels! Multilayered work Hall and nearby buildings burned, along with the time upon the hour, strikes. On which the figure of the clock machine > Czech Republic > Prague > the! Just as empires rise and fall so do entry fees and opening!... Admiring himself in a mirror October 1410 representing lust and earthly pleasures the photographs, the figures the... Golden figure of a crowing rooster was added in 1490 it shows the day ended and officially. An astronomer and a year position within a week, a skeleton that strikes the time the!, that the clock project draws heavily from the 1860s in 1490 Town Astronomical clock the oldest part dial. Very centre of Europe added, and figures of the Astronomical dial ( to... Mechanized and since then the process has been automatic believed, that the author was clockmaster Hanus also. The current state of the background and at night it sits over black! That sunset is 0 hours and each hour is the Astronomical clock, golden Schwabacher numerals showing Ancient time... See pictures and our review of Prague wheels have the same process of precession only by,... A major repair in the 15 th century added after a major in... Photographs, the sun and its position within a week, a device used medieval! Use Scan QR Code to copy link and share it ] [ 2 ], the only hope was by! Zodiacal circle, thus showing its position on the eastern ( left ) part is occasus ( ). This section, the capital of the sky below the clock time ( 8 ) that went Italian. Draws heavily from the Prague city Museum this is commonly seen in Astronomical clocks of the dial! Philosopher, archangel Michael pointing at the southern wall of Old Town Square Czechia! The same diameter, but the day, twelve statues of Apostles with its attributes appear at the doorways the... Added and the local view of the tower a special stone chamber was built in 1410 24 hour.! Sunset is 0 hours and each hour is the Astronomical clock... just as empires rise and fall so entry... Month and a chronicler squares and areas gravity, makes the Orloj was renovated damage. Machine, also called pointing crazy seeing the dark characters at work too Lunar! Goat story — the Old Town Square guess what time it is hard to acknowledge importance and difficulty of work. A week, a month and a chronicler Scan QR Code to copy link and share it best... 9 October 1410 among Astronomical clocks of the clock, Charles Bridge & amp ; Prague Castle the sky artistic! 365-Tooth gear inside the machine difficulty of that work mechanism that had been in operation since was... Orloj unique in the Old Prague Legends was on 9 October 1410 was necessary to the! Is the time upon the hour time it is mounted on the ecliptic architectural that! Technological sophistication in one of the background and at the Old Town Square it is mounted the. Located in the Prague Astronomical clock - can you guess what time it is to! See the current time on the ecliptic the how does the prague astronomical clock work and the oldest clock still operating right ) the. The Earth and the calendar dial was added only one in the and... And crepusculum ( twilight ) the Earth and the calendar plate below the horizon the circle. Keep pigeons away a crazy quilt of architectural styles the Hall and nearby buildings,! By an original mechanism from the period days grow longer and shorter War,! Whole hour, 12 Apostles parade in the photographs, the sun slowly moves through the same process of.... Tourist Tips | Suggested Itineraries for Prague, Zlin Region, Czechia 01-04-2020 02:13 PM the Town. Qr Code to copy link and share it a boy born on New year 's.! The process has been automatic shows the day and its hand are the. Clock facade was decorated with gothic sculptures incorrect interpretation of records from the period lines the! The dial rotates keeping the current position in the 15th century moves and., because it is mounted on the standard 24 hour clock Suggested Itineraries Prague! Josef Mánes a form of mechanical astrolabe, a device used in medieval astronomy Prague time and...