The celestial globe is an instrument representing the motion of celestial spheres. It's an orbicular star chart equal to its modern counterparts. Apart from displaying the position of celestial bodies, it can also demonstrate their daily apparent motion in the sky.

The first recorded celestial globe was created by Geng Shouchang from 70 B.C. to 50 B.C. in the Western Han Dynasty. It was then made in every dynasty. Its main body is a celestial sphere that can circle around a fixed axis so as to correspond to the diurnal apparent motion of celestial bodies. Ecliptic, equator, circle of perpetual apparition, circle of perpetual occultation, 28 star mansions and Chinese and foreign asterisms are set on the sphere. Here shows a celestial globe in the Ming Dynasty.