ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF SOUTHERN AFRICA
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Galpin Observatory Museum

Photo Gallery:
Buildings
Instruments
Current Information:

Current  Information:

  • The Current Information Section is irrelevant as the Observatory has closed down and is now a Museum administered by Albany Museum in Grahamstown.

Museum Information
Curator: J Way-Jones
Telephone no.: 0466222312
Fax no.:
e-mail: f.way-jones@ru.ac.za
Website:
Physical address:
Postal address:
 

Location:

Latitude 33deg. 20min S
Longitude 26deg. 32min E
 
In Brief:

Noted  for:

Summary:

The Observatory  forms part of the house (in Grahamstown) of a famous person in South  African history, which was also an amateur astronomer, H.C. Galpin.
Historical background:
Astronomers:
Programmes:

Instruments:

Link to the Telescope Manufacturers.
  • On top of the Victorian House is a dome with a Camera Obscura. This is a device where the image is projected inside the darkened dome  onto a white surface. Although the camera is not of astronomical  value, the 8.5 inch telescope is adapted to fit onto the Camera  Obscura.
  • 8.5  inch reflector with finderscope.
  • Transit  instrument.
  • Meridian room. This is a room with a high ceiling and a pin hole high up  in the north facing wall. The sunlight coming through the hole strike a north / south line in the room at noon during the equinox and solstices. The analema is marked out in the room, determining  the location of the room to within a second. (Latitude 33deg. 20min S; Longitude 26deg. 32min E)

Sources:

Link to the Main Bibliography Section and more information about Sources.

Pictorial  Sources:


Bibliography:

-(R14)
Links:
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 and the Archive.

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

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