UCL team solves Antikythera Mechanism mystery

The ancient Greek Antikythera Mechanism was used to predict the positions of the Sun, Moon and the planets as well as lunar and solar eclipses. Discovered in a Roman-era shipwreck in 1901 by divers near the Mediterranean island of Antikythera, the astronomical calculator has fascinated researchers ever since. 

The hand-powered device consists of a complex combination of 30 surviving bronze gears used to predict astronomical events. Studies in 2005 using 3D X-rays and surface imaging enabled researchers to show how the mechanism predicted eclipses and calculated the variable motion of the moon, but a full understanding of the gearing system at the front of the device had so far eluded scientists’ efforts.

Published in Scientific Reports, the team's findings are said to represent a significant advancement toward understanding the full capabilities of the Antikythera Mechanism. The paper reveals a new display of the ancient Greek order of the Universe (Cosmos).