Editing Hipparchus (section)

=== Celestial globe ===
[[File:HipparchsGlobus smh2017.png|thumb|Reconstruction of Hipparchus's celestial globe according to ancient descriptions and the data in manuscripts by his hand (excellence cluster TOPOI, Berlin, 2015 - published in Hoffmann (2017){{sfn|Hoffmann|2017}}).]]
Hipparchus's celestial globe was an instrument similar to modern electronic computers.{{sfn|Hoffmann|2017}} He used it to determine risings, settings and culminations (cf. also Almagest, book VIII, chapter 3). Therefore, his globe was mounted in a horizontal plane and had a meridian ring with a scale. In combination with a grid that divided the celestial equator into 24 hour lines (longitudes equalling our right ascension hours) the instrument allowed him to determine the hours. The ecliptic was marked and divided in 12 sections of equal length (the "signs", which he called {{lang|grc-Latn|zodion}} or {{lang|grc-Latn|dodekatemoria}} in order to distinguish them from constellations ({{lang|grc-Latn|astron}}). The globe was virtually reconstructed by a historian of science.