Astronomical details on the globe include a labelled magnitude table in a rectangular cartouche, above a title inscription. The stars are marked by the Bayer notation. The Milky Way and the Magellanic Clouds are drawn but only the Magellanic Clouds are labelled. The variable star in Cetus is listed. A total of 65 stars and eleven star groups are named. The 48 Ptolemaic constellations and four of the non Ptolemaic constellations are drawn. Six of the southern constellations are drawn, as well as those of Plancius, Hevelius, apart from Mons Maenalos, and Lacaille. However, not all the southern constellations are labelled.

The sphere is covered with a plaster coating and two sets of 12 half gores, clipped at an ecliptic latitude of 80°, and two polar calottes. The gores are copper-engraved, hand-coloured and varnished. The sphere is mounted in a graduated brass meridian ring. There is a brass English-type hour circle at the north pole, between the sphere and meridian ring.

The wooden stand consists of three turned legs which support the horizon ring. The legs are connected by a triangular-shaped base. There is a metal central support with a screw for fixing the meridian ring. The horizon ring is covered with printed paper; it is copper engraved, hand-coloured, and has a surface coating. The horizon ring has four scales, including one for degrees, one for 32 compass points and one for the zodiac. The cartography is English and Latin. There are co-ordinates with circles of latitude every I5° and parallels to the ecliptic every 10°. The equator is graduated for degrees, for hours and it is labelled. The ecliptic is graduated, it is labelled and provided with the symbols of the signs of the zodiac. Alongside the ecliptic, there is a zodiacal grid, and there is a calendar with the names of the months in Latin. There is a declination scale and an ecliptic latitude scale. The polar circles, the tropics, the colures are labelled inaccurately. The sphere bears the inscription 'KIRKWOOD'S / NEW CELESTIAL GLOBE'.