Credit: © The Royal Society
    Image number: RS.9288
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    Design sketch for the Great Melbourne Telescope

    Date
    15 December 1852
    Creator
    James Nasmyth (1808 - 1890, British) , Engineer
    Object type
    Archive reference number
    Material
    Dimensions
    height (drawing): 175mm
    width (drawing): 196mm
    Subject
    Content object
    Description
    Rough elevation of an equatorially-mounted reflecting telescope supported by a cast iron frame. An observer is shown seated on a platform at the top of the tube. The sketch is part of a letter written from Nasmyth’s Bridgewater Foundry at Patricroft, Manchester to the Earl of Rosse, discussing design ideas for the “Great [Melbourne] Telescope”. With a pencil inscription upper left “wood cut width to size of paper”.

    Supporting text reads: “The above rude sketch is somewhat like the way in which it appears to me such an instrument should be mounted – the Polar axis being a strong frame of cast iron between the sides of which the telescope tube swings. The observer in his snug box slung to the eye piece socket, so as to sit always on a horizontal seat whatever may be the position of the instrument...”.
    Object history
    This original version of Nasmyth’s design was reproduced in Correspondence concerning the Great Melbourne Telescope. In three parts: 1852-1870 (London, Royal Society, 1871), part I, p.2 but proved an unsuccessful design proposal.
    Associated place
    <The World>
       > Europe
          > Ireland
    <The World>
       > Oceania
          > Australia
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