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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

Altitude quadrant

Astronomy

1552

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

Astronomy

2008 (prototype)

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1640

Orrery made by John Rowley for the Earl of Orrery

Astronomy

1712-1713

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

circa 1772

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Objective lens by John Reeves

Astronomy

1657-1689

Reflecting telescope by William Herschel

Astronomy

1783-1785

Gunter quadrant

Astronomy

1650-1725

Islamic astrolabe

Astronomy

1666-1667

Caroline Herschel's telescope, 1795-1816

Astronomy

1795-1825

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

Moon globe by John Russell;England;1797

Astronomy

1797

Walnut and brass model of the "Great Paris Telescope"

Astronomy

1898-1900

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

Twelve-inch quadrant by John Bird

Astronomy

1760-1769

Filar micrometer by William Herschel, 1780-1800

Astronomy

1780-1800

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Brass weight from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Glass beaker from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Base (foot) from brass quadrant

Astronomy

Double-frame brass sextant.

Astronomy

1810-1826

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

Astronomy

1677

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture

Astronomy

1781-1791

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

Astronomy

2007

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

Astronomy

1812

Hindu astrolabe

Astronomy

1870

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

Astronomy

2011

Terrestrial globe by John Senex

Astronomy

1738

Glass positive of Pluto discovery

Astronomy

1930

Eyepiece, from Huygen's 210-Foot aerial telescope

Astronomy

1686-1691
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.

Mirror for the Great Rosse Telescope, 1844-1846

Astronomy

1844-1846

European celestial globe

Astronomy

1878

Parts from the Cambridge Interplanetary Scintillation Array

Astronomy

1967
Horary quadrant consisting of front and reverse paper scales and wooden board made by Henry Sutton, Threadneedle Street, London, 1658.

Horary quadrant by Henry Sutton

Astronomy

1658

Lunar crater model

Astronomy

1850-1871

Lunar photograph taken with the Kew Photoheliograph

Astronomy

1860-1862

Component of refracting telescope of 4.1-inch aperture

Astronomy

1781-1791

English planisphere, 1858

Astronomy

1858