Small orrery by Benjamin Martin

Astronomy

1738-1777

Small orrery on mahogany stand by Benjamin Martin, England, mid-18th century. The orrery shows seven planets (to Uranus), but Uranus is thought to be a later addition.

Altitude quadrant

Astronomy

1552

Altitude quadrant, maker unknown, made in Europe, 1552.

Prototype beam splitter for the Advanced Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory (aLIGO)

Astronomy

2008 (prototype)

Prototype suspension system for Advanced LIGO (Laser Interferometer Gravitational Wave Observatory) gravitational wave detector with dummy metal test masses. Made by Rutherford Appleton Laboratory, Chilton, England, 2007-2008.

Orrery made by John Rowley for the Earl of Orrery

Astronomy

1712-1713

Orrery, tellurium or planetary model, c. 1712, made for Charles Boyle, the fourth Earl of Orrery by John Rowley, Fleet Street, London.

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1640

Brass Gunter quadrant (3-inch radius) signed J M, probably John Marr, and dated 1640 with degree and trigonometric scales and volvelle on reverse side.

Terrestrial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1599

Terrestrial globe made by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1599.

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Gunter quadrant, maker unknown, made in England, 1650-1725. Mounted on to a mahogany base.

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

Astronomy

1780-1820

Brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand. Made by Peter and John Dollond, St Paul’s churchyard, London, and issued by the British Admiralty for surveying work in Lower Canada.

Sextant by Jesse Ramsden

Astronomy

circa 1772

Brass sextant by Jesse Ramsden, Piccadilly, London, 1770-75. Sextant has polished brass 120° scale (-2° to 136°) with 20’ divisions and brass vernier (30”), three index-filter shades (red & green), one horizon filter (red) and ‘Maskelyne flap’ for greater accuracy when taking a sight of the Sun or Moon. Fitted with threaded telescope bracket for sighting telescope (130mm –inverted image). The instrument has its original fitted mahogany keystone case.

Objective lens by John Reeves

Astronomy

1657-1689

Objective lens of 2¼ inch aperture I wooden mount, made by John Reeves, Long Acre, London, 1657-1689.

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Astronomy

1783-1785

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.

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Gunter quadrant, maker unknown, made in England, 1650-1725.

Islamic astrolabe

Astronomy

1666-1667

Islamic planispheric astrolabe in brass, diameter 25 cm, with rete, two plates, alidade, alidade, pin and horse, made by Jamal al-Din ibn Muquin, at Lahore, Pakistan, in 1077 AH (= 1666-7 CE). Inside of mater shows map locating Mecca with qibla of 17 locations. Zoomorphic characters on rete.

Caroline Herschel's telescope, 1795-1816

Astronomy

1795-1825

Newtonian reflecting telescope with 6-inch diameter speculum mirror of 7-foot focal length with black painted deal tube and altazimuth stand plus accessories

Armillary sphere by Girolamo Della Volpaia

Astronomy

1554

Armillary sphere made by Girolamo Della Volpaia, Florence, Italy, 1554. Inscribed ‘'Hieronymus Carmilli Vulpariae, Florentin, F.1554'.

Astrolabe by Ferdinand Arsenius

Astronomy

1607-1618

Astrolabe made by Ferdinand Arsenius, Antwerp, Flanders, 1607-1618.

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Horary quadrant made by Henry Sutton, Threadneedle Street, London, 1658. Paper scale on brass with lead plumb bob

Celestial globe by Willem Janszoon Blaeu

Astronomy

1603

Celestial globe made by Willem Janszoon Blaeu, Amsterdam, Netherlands, 1603.

Walnut and brass model of the "Great Paris Telescope"

Astronomy

1898-1900

Walnut and brass scale model (1:50 approx) of the 'Great Paris Telescope' exhibited at the 1900 Paris Exposition, a stationary 1.25 metre refracting telescope (57 metres long) with a 2 metre mirror siderostat.

Moon globe by John Russell;England;1797

Astronomy

1797

Moon globe 12-inch in diameter on libration stand, by John Russell, R.A., London, England, 1797. Known as ‘Selenographia’, the globe shows the nearside of the Moon visible from Earth. It has a mechanical mounting which demonstrates lunar libration, and which also features a miniature terrestrial globe.

Pocket globe in case by Dudley Adams

Astronomy

1799-1802

Three-inch pocket globe in fish-skin case by Dudley Adams, Fleet Street, London, 1799-1802. A celestial map lines the inside of the case. The terrestrial globe is inscribed: ‘A New Globe of the Earth by Dudley Adams’. The voyages of Captain James Cook are also shown.

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Horary quadrant made by Henry Sutton, Threadneedle Street, London, 1658.

Ebony and brass octant.

Astronomy

1777-1810

Octant signed ‘Watkins Charing Cross London’, made c. 1800. Ebony frame and limb, brass index arm and fittings, inlaid ivory plates on the crossbar and the back of the frame. The fouled anchor stamp was applied to instruments divided on a dividing engine; in this case either that of Jesse Ramsden (indicated by initials IR) or his apprentice Edward Pritchard (indicated by initials EP). The tangent screw is on the front of the index arm; the clamping screw is on the back. Three socket shades (two red, one green). Index-glass adjustment by screw; adjustment of the horizon glasses by screws, and by levers, wing nuts and milled clamping screws. The sight vane has two pinholes and a swivelling shade (red); the back sight vane has one pinhole. An ivory-capped pencil is fitted in the crossbar. No box.

Gunter quadrant by Walter Hayes

Astronomy

1648-1687

Gunter quadrant with lead plumb bob made by Walter Hayes, Moorfields, London, 1648-1687. Signed with the monogram of Walter Hayes.

Plaster model of the lunar surface

Astronomy

1844

Plaster relief model of a portion of the lunar surface by James Nasmyth, 1844, showing the lunar craters Maurolycus and Barocius, compared to Earth's Mount Vesuvius. There is a scale in red at bottom centre.

Filar micrometer by William Herschel, 1780-1800

Astronomy

1780-1800

Eyepiece micrometer inscribed E.2. in wood mount with brass frame and divided circle 1120 divisions, numbered 0 to 60) and steel screw, threads missing. Focal length 1.65 in

Twelve-inch quadrant by John Bird

Astronomy

1760-1769

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).

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Circular brass foot from portable brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand by Dollond, London, larger side of foot is smooth and flat, tapers to a smaller diameter with concentric circle indentations

Brass weight from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Brass weight from portable brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand by Dollond, London, short brass cylinder with six holes in a parallel line from top to bottom, with small hook to attach

Glass beaker from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Glass beaker from portable brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand by Dollond, London, slightly flared out from base with small brass hook

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Circular brass foot from portable brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand by Dollond, London, larger side of foot is smooth and flat, tapers to a smaller diameter with concentric circle indentations

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Circular brass foot from portable brass quadrant of 18-inch radius with optical sights on a tripod stand by Dollond, London, larger side of foot is smooth and flat, tapers to a smaller diameter with concentric circle indentations

Double-frame brass sextant.

Astronomy

1810-1826

Anodized brass sextant, double-frame bridge (18 straight-bars) type, with polished brass limb, wooden handle and threaded hole for stand, in mahogany keystone shaped fitted case, by Charles Augustus Schmalcalder, 82 Strand, City of Westminster, London, England 1810-1826. Consists of inlaid 123° silver scale (-5° to 140°) with 10' divisions, silver vernier scale (10") two sets of filter shades (4 & 3, red & green) and reading magnifier with reflector on a swivel arm (65mm). Fitted with threaded telescope bracket with collimation correction for two telescopes, 90mm and 176mm (erect & inverted image) and extra draw tube (47mm). Case contains repair label for Henry Porter, 181 Strand, London, dated April 1885. Case and sextant marked, ‘Da 18 [and] H O [broad anchor] 18’, the property sign of the Hydrographic Office of the British Admiralty (adopted in Feb.1828, D indicates sextant)

Tenmon Bun’ya no zu (map showing divisions of the heavens and regions they govern)

Astronomy

1677

Tenmon Bun’ya no zu (map showing divisions of the heavens and regions they govern) star map with wooden case by Shibukawa Harumi (1639-1715), Japan, 1677. Combines Shibukawa's systematic astronomical observations with concepts from Chinese field-allocation astrology. (see note)

Award from the BBC to Sir Patrick Moore, commemorating 50 years of The Sky at Night

Astronomy

2007

Award from the BBC to astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore, commemorating 50 years of programme The Sky at Night in 2007.

Accessories for Newtonian reflecting telescope made by William Herschel for the Radcliffe Observatory

Astronomy

1812

Brass crank handle, single eyepiece, key and two broken wooden dowels (possibly unrelated) for Newtonian reflecting telescope of 10-foot focal length, made by William Herschel, England, 1812. The telescope was installed at the Radcliffe Observatory, Oxford, in 1813.

Hindu astrolabe

Astronomy

1870

Hindu planispheric astrolabe in copper [brass?], single plate, made for Raja Ramasimha by Sivalala in 1870. Engraved in Sanskrit with instrument laid out for the latitude of Bundi (25º 28'), Rajasthan, India. Alidade at rear missing.

Trophy awarded to Sir Patrick Moore commemorating his 700th episode of The Sky at Night

Astronomy

2011

Trophy inscribed ‘Sir Patrick Moore | The Sky at Night | 700 Not Out!’. Awarded to astronomer and broadcaster Patrick Moore to commemorate his 700th episode of the BBC programme in 2011.

Terrestrial globe by John Senex

Astronomy

1738

Twelve-inch terrestrial globe made by John Senex, Fleet Street, London, 1738. Inscribed: ‘A new and correct Globe of the Earth together with a view of the general and coasting trade winds, monsoons etc. Laid down according to the newest discoveries and from the most exact observations by John Senex, F.R.S. Sold by him at the Globe against St. Dunstans Church in Fleet Street, 1738.’

Glass positive of Pluto discovery

Astronomy

1930

Glass positive of the planet Pluto; Lowell Observatory 42-inch Reflector. Focal length 220 ins. March 2d 4h 56m. C.O. Lampland 12"x8". Prepared from silver print (from R.A.S.No. 416) lent by Sir James Jeans.

Eyepiece, from Huygen's 210-Foot aerial telescope

Astronomy

1686-1691

Eyepiece, 4 1/8-inch focal length with wooden handle, component for Huygen's 210-Foot aerial telescope

Mirror for the Great Rosse Telescope, 1844-1846

Astronomy

1844-1846

Six-foot speculum [metal] mirror on travelling carriage from the Great Rosse Telescope, the 'Leviathan of Parsonstown', built by the Third Earl of Rosse at Birr, Ireland, 1844-46.

European celestial globe

Astronomy

1878

Celestial globe (42-inch diameter) on wooden pillar stand by Charles Delagrave, Paris, France, 1878. Thought to be a 19th century copy of a globe by Vincenzo Coronelli, a Venetian map maker and geographer. Cartouche is signed as being delineated by Arnold Deuvez and engraved by J. B. Nolin, 1693. Globe gores may be 18th or 19th century copies.

Parts from the Cambridge Interplanetary Scintillation Array

Astronomy

1967

Parts of the interplanetary scintillation array (also known as the 4-acre array) built at Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory, Cambridge, 1967. Designed by Antony Hewish and used by Jocelyn Bell to detect pulsars. Consists of two wooden vertical supports, one wooden cross support, and a section of copper wire and cables.

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture

Astronomy

1781-1791

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture, on an English type equatorial mounting, commissioned by Sir George Shuckburgh from Jesse Ramsden in 1781, though not completed until 1791

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Horary quadrant consisting of front and reverse paper scales and wooden board made by Henry Sutton, Threadneedle Street, London, 1658.

Filar micrometer by William Herschel, 1780-1800

Astronomy

1780-1800

Eye-piece micrometer inscribed E.6 in wood mount with brass frame divided circle (120 divisions numbered from 0 degree to 60 degrees) and steel screw, 2 threads in position

Sample panel and adjustor for the James Clerk Maxwell Sub-millimetre telescope, 1986

Astronomy

1986

Triangular piece of sectioned segment panel for the James Clerk Maxwell Telescope (JCMT), 1986

Photograph of lunar crater model

Astronomy

1850-1874

One of 15 assorted photographs of James Nasmyth's crater models illuminated at a low angle showing the region of Lunar Apennines. Originally mounted in Nasmyth's own album. The photo appeared in the book, 'The Moon' by Nasmyth & Carpenter (London, 1874), plate IX entitled 'Normal Lunar Crater'.

Sir Patrick Moore's Sir Arthur Clarke Award 2005

Astronomy

2005

Sir Arthur Clarke Award for ‘Best Written Presentation’, awarded in 2005 to amateur astronomer and broadcaster Sir Patrick Moore, and space artist David A. Hardy, for their collaboration on the illustrated book Futures: 50 Years in Space.