An
astrolabe is an elaborate
inclinometer, historically used by
astronomers,
navigators, and
astrologers. Its many uses include locating and predicting the positions of the
Sun,
Moon,
planets, and
stars, determining local time given local latitude and vice versa, surveying, and
triangulation. It was used in
classical antiquity, the
Islamic Golden Age, the European
Middle Ages and
Renaissance for all these purposes. In the Islamic world, it was also used to calculate the
Qibla and to find the times for
Salat, prayers.