Hampton Court Palace Astronomical Clock

This is a table top model of the astronomical clock at Hampton Court Palace near London. The real clock overlooking the courtyard is 4.6 metres in diameter! It was designed and built in 1540 for Henry VIII at a time when it was believed the sun revolved around the earth. It shows time, date, phase of the moon and the time of high water at London Bridge. There are also some astrological displays. The mechanism is simple but ingenious. Two epicyclic gear trains are sufficient to provide all the data.