‘The Equatorial Telescope’
Date
1851
Sitter
John Lee (1783 - 1866) , Antiquary
Creator
James Basire III (1796 - 1869, British) , Engraver
Object type
Library reference
R63992
Material
Dimensions
height (print): 298mm
width (print): 228mm
width (print): 228mm
Subject
Description
Interior view of the equatorial tower at Hartwell House, Buckinghamshire, England, the residence of John Lee from 1827. The scene shows a cutaway of the room and observatory dome. A standing astronomer [John Lee] is shown adjusting the telescope.
Plate 12 from the book Aedes Hartwellianae, or notices of the manor and mansion of Hartwell, by W.H. Smyth (London, 1851). Inscribed above right: ‘Plate XII’ Inscribed below: ‘The Equatorial Telescope. J. Basire sc.’.
The accompanying text states that the observatory room for the equatorial telescope was extended from the transit room at Hartwell House. The housing was engineered using Roman cement by Charles May of Ampthill, later of Ransome and May in Ipswich. The telescope belonged to William Henry Smyth, who transferred the instrument from his private observatory in Bedford, to Hartwell. It had a 5.9-inch object glass, with a focal length of 8 feet 8.5 inches.
John Lee [formerly Fiott] (1783-1866) British antiquary and astronomer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1831.
William Henry Smyth (1788-1865) British naval officer and surveyor was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1826.
Plate 12 from the book Aedes Hartwellianae, or notices of the manor and mansion of Hartwell, by W.H. Smyth (London, 1851). Inscribed above right: ‘Plate XII’ Inscribed below: ‘The Equatorial Telescope. J. Basire sc.’.
The accompanying text states that the observatory room for the equatorial telescope was extended from the transit room at Hartwell House. The housing was engineered using Roman cement by Charles May of Ampthill, later of Ransome and May in Ipswich. The telescope belonged to William Henry Smyth, who transferred the instrument from his private observatory in Bedford, to Hartwell. It had a 5.9-inch object glass, with a focal length of 8 feet 8.5 inches.
John Lee [formerly Fiott] (1783-1866) British antiquary and astronomer was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1831.
William Henry Smyth (1788-1865) British naval officer and surveyor was elected a Fellow of the Royal Society in 1826.
Related fellows
William Henry Smyth (1788 - 1865, British) , Naval officer
Associated place