Selection of 26 eyepieces by William Herschel, 1780-1800

Made:
1780-1800 in England, Slough and Maidenhead
maker:
William Herschel

Selection of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts inscribed D1 to D26, no lens visible in D25 (possibly slipped between brass plates)

Dated 1780-1800, this selection of 26 eyepieces was made by the astronomer, William Herschel for the telescopes he used. In addition to building his own reflecting telescopes, Herschel made his own eyepieces. In most cases, he mounted the optics in cocoa a tropical hardwood still used for woodwind instruments today. Herschel's use of wood instead of brass is probably due to his background as a musician. These eyepieces are also unusual in that they have very short focal lengths to produce massive magnification. By using a tiny single lens, Herschel achieved powers in excess of several thousand times. Such high values of magnification were doubted by many of Herschel's contemporaries and are extraordinary even today.

One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D1.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D2.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D3.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D4.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D5.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D6.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D7.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D8.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D9.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D10.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D11.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D12.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D13.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D14.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D15.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D16.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D17.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D18.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D19.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D20.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D21.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D22.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D23.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D24.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800
One of twenty six eyepieces, in wooden mounts made by William Herschel and used with his own reflecting telescopes, Slough, England, 1780-1800. Inscribed D25.

One of twenty six reflecting telescope eyepieces, in wooden mounts

1780-1800

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Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1925-467
Materials:
glass and wood
Measurements:
part: length 360 mm
part: width 310 mm
part: height 120 mm
type:
components and eyepieces
credit:
Mr John Herschel-Shorland

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