Description: Foucalt Pendulum

Location: Albany Museum
Source:
-(R14)

Description: Foucalt Pendulum

Location: University of the Orange Free state
Source:

Description: Blink Microscope

Used by Innes of the Republic Observatory to discover Proxima Centauri, faint companion star to Alpha Centauri. (1912)
Source:
-Collins, P. & Moore, P.; Astronomy in Southern Africa, p101.

Description: Danjon prismatic astrolabe (4 inch).

This instrument came to the Cape Observatory on loan from the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux. It was installed in 1964. The purpose was for a special program to check the systematic accuracy of the fundamental system of star positions between -4 and -64 degrees. The program operated between 1965 and 1969. Approximately 1000 stars were selected from the SRS project. A byproduct of this work was to determine the latitude and longitude from each night's observations and to report the results to the International Polar Motion Service and the Bureau International de l'Heure.
Source:
-Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings, p.17; p.29.

Description: Kinetheodolite.

This instrument came to the Cape Observatory on loan from the Royal Greenwich Observatory at Herstmonceux in 1967. It was used to observe artificial satellites (Project Moonwatch).
Source:
-Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings, p. 17.

Description: Laser Transmitter:

Used at Olifantsfontein Satellite Tracking Station to determine position, distance and movement of Earth Satellites.
Picture: -Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, p.143.
Sources:
-Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, p.143. (General Source)
-Smits P. A Brief History of Astronomy in Southern Africa. (Unpublished).

Description: Joyce Loebl micro densimeter.

Used at Boyden Observatory.
Source:
-Jarret AH., Boyden Observatory Publication no. 2

Description: Askania diaphram photometer

Used at Boyden Observatory.
Source:
-Jarret AH., Boyden Observatory Publication no. 2

Description: Pye two-dimensional measuring microscope

Used at Boyden Observatory.
Source:
-Jarret AH., Boyden Observatory Publication no. 2

Interesting Links:
Link to Objects Lost and / or Found.
Link to a short History of Astronomy in Southern Africa.
Link to a Time Line to see how Events on this page relates to the bigger time dimension.
Link to view the Achievements and other Interesting Aspects of Southern African Astronomers.
Link to the Telescope Manufacturers
Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources.

Director Historical Section: Chris de Coning - siriusa@absamail.co.za

Webmaster: Christian Hettlage - webmaster@assa.saao.ac.za