What is the main structure of the water transport instrument platform in Song Dynasty?

The water transport platform made in the Song Dynasty was built in Kaifeng by astronomers Su Song and Han Gonglian in the Northern Song Dynasty from 1088 to 1090. It is about12m high and 7m wide, and is divided into three layers. An armillary sphere is placed on the upper floor to observe the positions of the sun, moon and stars. In order to facilitate observation, it is covered with nine movable roof panels, which have the same function as the retractable spherical platform roof on the modern observatory. In the middle layer, an imager is placed at the star position of a spherical celestial body, and the imager is a sphere; There is a mechanical device that can make the constellation rotate from east to west, consistent with the apparent motion of celestial bodies, and make the position of spherical constellation consistent with the astronomical phenomena. There is a wooden pavilion on the lower floor, which is divided into five floors. There is a door on each floor, and at some point, Woodenhead will come out to strike the time. Behind the wooden pavilion, there is a leaky kettle and a mechanical system. A leaky kettle can make the water rise, turn the wheel and make the whole instrument move step by step. Very clever, let a person sigh.

The power device of this hydraulic observatory is equivalent to the clock mechanism on modern telescopes, which can keep the stars running in the sky in view. This is an invention far earlier than similar equipment in Europe. In Europe, it was not until A.D. 1670 that Hooke, a British physicist and astronomer, first proposed to make a self-adjusting clock rotating telescope. This suggestion is of practical value until the focal length of the telescope is gradually shortened and accurate equatorial devices can be used.