Artistic interpretation in a 16th-century manuscript showing astronomers lining up various parts of the armillary sphere.

Some of the uses of the armillary sphere include determining the solar altitude to calculate how many hours have elapsed from the day; Determining the meridian line at any place, longitudes and latitudes of celestial bodies, differences in the length of day and night throughout the year and in the different climates; Obtaining the latitudes and longitudes of cities, and many other uses.