Early man looked at the sky and believed the stars were attached to the inner surface of a rotating sphere. Copernicus gave its name to the theory of an Earth-centered universe, and the Vatican propagated his faith by threatening to burn scientific heretics at the stake if they claimed otherwise. We now know that we live on the edge of an almost infinite and ever-expanding universe. Armillary dials have positioned the Earth in a web of bronze hoops, symbolizing the course of the planets as it was known at the time. The course of the sun is represented by a wide band called the ecliptic circle. Colour: bronze Material: brass & chrome Dimensions: LxWxH: 18.5 x 18.5 x 36.5 cm