Erasmus Habermel and Jost Burgi were the emperor's mechanics at the court of Rudolf II. In their shops were produced astronomical instruments of masterful quality. In the collections of the NTM are two sextants of the mentioned authors, with which worked during their stay in Prague Tycho Brahe and Johannes Kepler. The value of these instruments reaches tenth of millions of Czech crowns. For safety reasons and also for reasons of protecting the national heritage they shouldn't be permanently exhibited, which however the public would rightfully consider as a deprivation. In world-wide practice are such artifacts replaced by true copies and the originals are exhibited only on special occasions. Copies allow also demonstrations of the functions of the instruments, which increases their attractiveness for the public.
The producing of each one of them would cost approx. 0.5 mil. Czech crowns.
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