Reflecting telescope by William Herschel, 1783-1785

Made:
1783-1785 in Bath
maker:
William Herschel
Speculum mirror of  6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in Speculum mirror of  6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Speculum mirror of  6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Page from Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel Newtonian reflecting  telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Creative Commons LicenseThis image is released under a CC BY-NC-SA 4.0 Licence

Buy this image as a print 

Buy

License this image for commercial use at Science and Society Picture Library

License

Speculum mirror of 6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Speculum mirror of 6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Speculum mirror of 6 1/8-inches and 7-foot focal length in
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Page from Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with mahogany tube and altazimuth stand; includes accessories and a pamphlet of directions for use. Telescope made by Herschel for his friend Sir William Watson in Bath, 1783-1785.

Dated to about 1783-5, this reflecting telescope was made by the famous astronomer, William Herschel for his good friend Dr Watson who he first met in Bath. The telescope has a mahogany 7-foot tube and stand that is operated using pulley ropes and gears. The heart of the telescope is a 6 1/8-inch mirror made of speculum metal, a bronze alloy with arsenic added for a more reflective surface. Herschel ground and polished all his own mirrors and lenses then had them built into telescopes that he sold to supplement his income as royal astronomer to King George III. His patron purchased several instruments while the King of Spain ordered a massive telescope with a 24-inch mirror.

The pamphlet of directions that accompanies this telescope is thought to be written in Caroline Herschel’s hand.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1876-1000
Materials:
mahogany, speculum metal, brass and glass
Measurements:
overall (estimate): 1800 mm x 1750 mm x 450 mm, 40 kg
type:
telescope - newtonian and telescope - reflecting
credit:
Smith, E.

Parts

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6 1/8-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with mahogany tube and altazimuth stand; includes accessories and a pamphlet of directions for use. Telescope made by Herschel for his friend Sir William Watson in Bath, 1783-1785.

Measurements:
overall: 1800 mm x 1750 mm x 460 mm, 40 kg
Materials:
mahogany , brass , iron , glass and complete
Object Number:
1876-1000 Pt1
type:
instrument component , telescope - newtonian and telescope - reflecting
Pamphlet by William Herschel;instructions for the use of his Newtonian reflecting telescope

Pamphlet by William Herschel;instructions for the use of his Newtonian reflecting telescope

Pamphlet written in the hand of William Herschel giving instructions for the use of his Newtonian reflecting telescope with altazimuth stand

Measurements:
overall: 1 x 160 x 300 mm
Materials:
paper
Object Number:
1876-1000 Pt3
type:
components and pamphlets
Accessories and eyepieces for 7 foot Herschel telescope

Accessories and eyepieces for 7 foot Herschel telescope

Selection of accessories consisting of eyepieces, 2 keys for drawer and tube lock and spare roller bar for 7-foot Herschel telescope owned by Sir William Watson the younger late 18th century.

Materials:
brass , glass , mahogany and complete
Object Number:
1876-1000 Pt4
type:
components , accessories and eyepieces