[awr' ur E] a working model of the solar system as seen from the "outside"

Simple orreries typically show no planets other than the Earth revolving about the Sun plus the Moon revolving around the Earth, but more complex models include all known planets, and some may even show the moons revolving around those planets. The first known planetary machines were made by London clockmaker George Graham between 1704 and 1709. The first planetary machine to be called an orrery was made by another London clockmaker, John Rowley, who made one for Charles Boyle, 4th Earl of Orrery (for whom he named the device).

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This page was last updated on 05/25/2017.