Csodaszarvas by László Gyula
Csodaszarvas is a central figure in the legends surrounding the origin of the Hungarian people. The name translates to “Miraculous Deer”. According to Hungarian legend, while out hunting, the brothers Hunor and Magor saw a miraculous white stag. They pursued the animal, but it always stayed ahead of them, leading them westward into Levedia, where they married two princesses and founded the Hun and Magyar peoples.
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Orrery
Imaged above is a device called an orrery. An orrery is used to “[illustrate] the relative positions and motions of the planets and moons in the solar system.”
This particular orrery (not to scale), made by English instrument maker Benjamin Cole, demonstrates the transit of Venus. At the time, astronomers hoped to use it to get a better idea of the distance between the Earth and the Sun via the transit of Venus that occurred on June 6, 1761.
Turning the handle causes Venus to pass across the face of the sun, while Earth rotates about its axis. The slanting line inscribed around Earth indicates the southern limit of potential observation sites, while the clock face below shows the transit duration.
(via Natalie Waddell)
Image credit: The Royal Society | Other sources: Wikipedia](http://24.media.tumblr.com/tumblr_m4gb6jmkPk1r2zmv6o1_500.jpg)
