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Astronomy

Explore the tools people have used to understand the heavens. These objects form a world-class record of astronomical instrument-making, observation and demonstrations from the 10th century to the present day.

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Small orrery by Benjamin Martin

Astronomy

1738-1777

Terrestrial globe by John Senex

Astronomy

1738

Glass positive of Pluto discovery

Astronomy

1930

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1640

Altitude quadrant

Astronomy

1552

Mahogany pulley orrery

Astronomy

1750-1775

Orrery made for the Earl of Orrery

Astronomy

1712-1713

Photograph of lunar crater model

Astronomy

1850-1874

Aluminium spectroscopic plate from the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS)

Astronomy

1998-2002

Brass quadrant by Peter and John Dollond of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod

Astronomy

1780-1820

Terrestrial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1599

Sextant by Jesse Ramsden

Astronomy

c. 1772

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Objective lens by John Reeves

Astronomy

1657-1689

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel, 1783-1785

Astronomy

1783-1785

Lunar Crater model

Astronomy

1849-1851

Model (scale 1:200) of the Jodrell Bank Lovell Telescope

Astronomy

1957 (original); 1961 (model)

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Islamic astrolabe

Astronomy

1666-1667

Armillary sphere by Girolamo Della Volpaia

Astronomy

1554

Astrolabe by Ferdinand Arsenius

Astronomy

1607-1618

Celestial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1603

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Replica of refracting telescope by Galileo, 1610

Astronomy

1610

Newtonian reflecting telescope, 1795-1816

Astronomy

1795-1825

Moon globe by John Russell;England;1797

Astronomy

1797

Pocket globe in case by Dudley Adams

Astronomy

1799-1802

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Ebony and brass octant.

Astronomy

1777-1810

Gunter quadrant by Walter Hayes

Astronomy

1648-1687

Plaster model of the lunar surface

Astronomy

1844

Model of radio dish from one mile telescope at Cambridge, 1964.

Astronomy

1964

Incomplete mechanical orrery

Astronomy

Filar micrometer by William Herschel, 1780-1800

Astronomy

1780-1800

Foucault Pendulum for demonstrating the Earth's rotation

Astronomy

1988

Brass weight from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Brass refracting telescope of 4 1/2 inch aperture

Astronomy

1855-1865

Walnut and brass scale model (1:50 approx) of the

Astronomy

1898-1900

Glass beaker from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Hindu quadrant, 1800-1899

Astronomy

1800-1899

Brass lacquered sextant with straight-bar-pattern, 24 pillar frame, polished brass limb, wooden handle with counterbalanced tripod pillar stand and mercury artificial horizon in wooden box, all by John and Edward Troughton, 136 Fleet Street , London, England, 1790-1800. Consists of brass 127° scale (-5° to 140°) with 20’ divisions and brass vernier (10”), three index-filter shades (red & green), two horizon filters (red & green), scale magnifier on 90mm swivelling arm. Fitted with threaded telescope bracket for sighting telescope (182mm – inverted image) with 2 extra draw tubes, 131mm sighting tube and other accessories. The fitted rectangular case has in the lid the trade card for J. & E. Troughton. The artificial mercurial horizon consisting of a rectangular wooden trough fitted in a tin tray and a brass-framed, roof-shaped cover with glazed side panels, unsigned, made later, 1845-55.

Brass framed sextant with stand, artificial horizon and case.

Astronomy

1790-1800

Model of Narivalaya at Jaipur Observatory, 1884-1886

Astronomy

1884-1886

Sunspots, American, 12 August 1917.

Astronomy

1917

One of two circular diapositive photographs of the full Moon taken by Warren De La Rue [1858-1868] through a 13-inch reflecting telescope with a speculum mirror and using wet colloidon plates. The instrument was carried on a German type clock-driven equatorial mounting housed in his observatory at Cranford, Middlesex.

Photograph of the Moon taken by Warren De La Rue

Astronomy

1858-1868

'Night Star' flexible star map [UK Pat No.1432436,

Astronomy

1982-1987

European astrolabe, 1425-1435

Astronomy

1425-1435

Hindu astrolabe

Astronomy

1870

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