'Peking (Beijing) Observatory'. Thomson writes that these objects were constructed by Chinese artificers in the 17th century under the direction of Father Verbiest, a Frenchman. Right, an armillary sphere; left, a celestial globe, the 'best fashioned of all the instruments. The globe ... is exactly round ... the stars well made and in their true places. The least touch moves it though it is above 2,000 lbs weight'.