Grubb
6 inch (15 cm)
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Manufacturers
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and more information about Sources.
Index: Summary; Technical; Sources.
History of each telescope; Cape; Montagu; Aberdeen No. 1 and No. 2.
Note:
There were six identical telescopes ordered by the transit committee
to observe the Transit
of Venus
in 1882. This page covers all four of the six telescopes. Because
the other pages on this website covers individual telescopes
and this page cover more identical telescopes the layout of this
page has been changed. The summary and technical sections covers
all the telescopes, after which each individual telescope will
be discussed.
Source: A.S.S.A. Archives: Peter Smits Collection
Summary:
In
1882 a very important astronomical event took place, namely the
transit
of Venus.
A transit committee was formed to oversee the British transit
expeditons, inclusing those that came to South Africa. They ordered
from Grubb for six identical telescopes. Four of these were sent
to South Africa and used for transit observations at the following
sites: Cape Observatory (1 telescope); Montagu Road [now known
as Touwsrivier] (1 telescope); Aberdeen Road (2 telescopes). The
four out of the six telescopes that did service in South Africa
is relevant to this website and will be dealt with individually.
One telescope remained behind at the Cape Observatory, and is
still in use today. The other three were returned to England.
[Koorts - British, p. 42.]
Technical Details
Type: Refractor
Aperture: 8 inch (20 cm)
Focal Length:
Lens:
Mounting: As the telescopes were ordered for a single event the mountings were designed to be portable. They were found to be very unstable. The telescope at the Cape observatory were eventually used on a permanent basis and thus the Grubb designed mounting was descarded and replaced with a more stable mounting designed for an 8-inch telescope. [Koorts - British, p. 52.]
Attachments:
Manufacturer: Grubb
History of the individual telescopes:
Cape Observatory
Summary:
This telescope was ordered as part of the transit of Venus
observations by the British transit committee. On 8 September
1882, Finlay,
one of the astronomers at the Cape
Observatory
using this telescope discovered a comet which became known as
the Great Comet of 1882. [Koorts - British, p. 51.] Gill
was the astronomer who used the telescope during the transit.
He also used this telescope to take a photo of the Great Comet,
which was one of the first photographs ever taken of an astronomical
object and help to inaugurate astrophotography. It's mounting
was later replaced by a more stable mount. Today this telescope
is used by the Cape Centre of ASSA.
Transit Information:
Owner: British Transit Committee (?)
Where Located: Cape Observatory
Current Information:
Present Location: SAAO
Owner: SAAO
Status: Operational
Condition: Good
Montagu Road
Summary:
This telescope was ordered as part of the transit of Venus observations by the British transit committee. The astronomer who used this telescope was A. Marth with Corp. Thornton as assistant. After the transit this telescope was returned to England.
Transit Information:
Owner: British Transit Committee (?)
Where Located: Monatu Road (Today known as Touwsrivier)
Current Information:
Present Location: Unknown
Owner:
Status:
Condition:
Aberdeen Road number one
Summary:
This telescope was ordered as part of the transit of Venus
observations by the British transit committee. W.H.
Finlay
was the astronomer who used this telescope. After the transit
this telescope was returned to England.
Transit Information:
Owner: British Transit Committee (?)
Where Located: Aberdeen Road
Current Information:
Present Location: Unknown
Owner:
Status:
Condition:
Aberdeen Road number two
Summary:
This telescope was ordered as part of the transit of Venus observations by the British transit committee. R.T. Pett was the astronomer sho used this telescope. After the transit this telescope was returned to England.
Transit Information:
Owner: British Transit Committee (?)
Where Located: Aberdeen Road
Current Information:
Present Location: Unknown
Owner:
Status:
Condition:
Sources
Link
to the Main Bibliography
Section
and more information about Sources.
Documentation:
Pictorial Sources:
Bibliography:
Koorts, W.: The 1882 transit of Venus: The British expeditions to South Africa; MNASSA April 2004, Vol. 63 nos. 3 & 4, pp. 34 - 57.
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