Twelve-inch quadrant by John Bird

Made:
1760-1769 in London
maker:
John Bird

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Buy this image as a print 

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

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Buy this image as a print 

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

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

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Twelve-inch quadrant on pillar stand with two plumb bobs, two glass beakers and two detachable reading microscopes, by John Bird, Strand, London, England, 1760-1769. This instrument has its original mahogany case. This type of quadrant was used by Lieutenant (later Captain) James Cook during his first voyage of exploration aboard HMS Bark Endeavour (1768–1771).

Quadrants such as these were used to measure the altitudes of the Sun and stars. Lieutenant James Cook took an instrument similar to this – possibly this very one – on his expedition to the South Pacific island of Tahiti, from where he was to observe the transit of Venus across the Sun in 1769. Upon arriving on the island, Cook’s party used their quadrant to set the time of their astronomical regulator clock, and to determine precisely the position of their observatory.

Details

Category:
Astronomy
Object Number:
1876-572/1
Materials:
brass and glass
Measurements:
overall (Object total): 640 mm x 450 mm x 270 mm,
overall (quadrant height only): 304.8 mm
type:
quadrant - optical
taxonomy:
  • furnishing and equipment
  • measuring device - instrument