The universe at school: a biography of the planetary machine of the Anchieta Museum of Natural Sciences/RS

Abstract

This study investigates the historical, symbolic, and educational trajectory of the Planetary Machine at the Anchieta Museum of Natural Sciences. The machine, also known as the Copernican planetarium, is a mechanical model of the Solar System, built in the early 20th century and installed at the Anchieta School in 1926. Associated with French manufacturer Émile Bertaux (1840–1903), the device is part of the didactic tradition of orreries (devices dating back to the 18th century), using brass gears to simulate the rotation and revolution of celestial bodies, such as the Earth and the Moon, respectively. The research adopts a qualitative approach, utilizing documentary research and a comparative study of international examples. The theoretical framework mobilizes the notions of educational heritage, school material culture, the biography of things, and the concept of musealization. The analysis outlines the machine's trajectory in four stages. The artifact transitioned from a pedagogical instrument, valued in the "Lesson of Things" methodology, to a historical-educational heritage, through a process of musealization that also transformed it into a museum document. The study is justified by the machine's rare nature; as far as we know, it is the only similar working example preserved in Brazil. The conclusion is that, although it is now astronomically outdated, the piece maintains a unique educational function, inviting reflection on the history of science and education in Brazil.