Blaeu Celestial Globe (1602)

This historic celestial globe was created by renowned Dutch cartographer Willem Janszoon Blaeu in 1602. It represents the first full publication of the Southern Hemisphere’s constellations, including the Southern Cross.

Historical Significance

The Blaeu globe is one of only six known examples in the world. This 23.5 cm globe was based on observations made by Frederik de Houtman, a Dutch East India Company skipper who sailed on the earliest Dutch voyage to Asia. The paper sphere rests in its original wooden stand, complete with a brass meridian, and features birds, horses, mythical gods and creatures.

Conservation and Digitization

The Australian National Maritime Museum’s conservation team conducted detailed analysis of the globe, including Reflectance Transformation Imaging (RTI) technique to study its construction and condition over the past 400 years.

Capture Method

As this is a fragile and very old item, we worked closely with the conservators to ensure the individual parts could be correctly handled and positioned. The capture process involved:

• Separate component photography - The globe/ring was shot separately from the base to minimise handling risks
• Polarised and unpolarised techniques - A combination of both lighting approaches was used to capture surface details while managing reflections
• Photogrammetry-only workflow - The final 3D model was created entirely through photogrammetry
• Three separate deliverables - All three parts (globe, ring, and base) were delivered as separate items, even though the ring could not be physically removed from the globe

This careful approach ensured the artifact’s preservation while achieving high-quality 3D documentation.

Interactive Viewing

Use the controls to:

• Rotate the globe 360 degrees to explore all constellations
• Zoom in to see intricate details of the engravings
• Examine the mythological creatures and figures
• Study the Southern Cross and other Southern Hemisphere constellations