Cassegrain reflecting telescope, 1762-1774
- maker:
- Jesse Ramsden
Cassegrain reflecting telescope of 6 inch aperture by Jesse Ramsden, London on an adjustable equatorial mounting with 2 spirit levels and 3 levelling screws. Accessories include, a filar micrometer, 3 small speculum mirrors, 3 eyepieces [1 by Nairne & Blunt], 2 adjustor keys and a finder telescope.
Dated to 1762--74, this reflecting telescope uses the Cassigrain optical configuration. Made by Jesse Ramsden then the foremost instrument maker in London, it has a 6-inch metal mirror. The telescope is mounted on an improved version of James Short's so-called 'universal', a portable equatorial stand with a brass fork holding the tube and an adjustable polar axis. As it is used on a table or similar surface, the portable telescope has three levelling screws and a pair of sprit levels. Such a lavish instrument would have only been affordable to a rich aristocratic dilettante.