Polyhedra on an Equilateral Hyperboloid
Dirk Huylebrouck

Proceedings of Bridges 2012: Mathematics, Music, Art, Architecture, Culture
Pages 231–238
Regular papers

Abstract

The paper gives examples of polyhedra inscribed in a (equilateral) hyperboloid, because this surface can be seen as negative curvature counterpart of a sphere. There is a historical argument: Kepler used polyhedra inscribed in spheres as a model for the orbits of planets, and so, since many comets follow a hyperbolic path, their orbits might be compared to polyhedra in hyperboloids. Thus, square, penta-, hexa- and heptagrammic crossed prisms are proposed, as well as an (extended) 'hyperbolic cuboctahedron' with a recognizable hourglass aspect. The approach is not exhaustive, but it might nevertheless inspire poetic mathematicians to develop a 'Comet Mysterium', or artists to make creations using the hyperboloid.

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