Victoria Telescope
better known as McClean Telescope
61 cm (24 inch)
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.
Photo
gallery
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.
Index: Summary; History; Current; Technical; Source.
In brief
Important Contributions:
Description:
This
instrument was well suited for astronomical photography and described
as a "first-rate telescope." The telescope carries the
name of Frank McClean from Rusthall, Kent. He was a fellow
of the Royal Society (England), engineer and enthusiastic
astronomy amateur. He gave the telescope to Gill
as a gift. The instrument became officially known in South Africa
as the Victoria Telescope, but better known as the McClean
telescope.
Note: According to Moore, it was the private property of McClean, who in later years offered it to Gill. According to Smits, it was commissioned by McClean to be built by Grubb and was shipped immediately to the Cape Observatory. [Smits quoting MNASSA Vol. 57]
Historical Background
Owner:
Cape
Observatory
(now S.A.A.O.)
Where Located:
Cape Observatory.
Extra Information:
- The
instrument was used in conjunction with the Astrographic
telescope
to photograph the sky for the project called Cape Photographic
Catalogue 1950.0 (CPC
50).
Attached to the telescope was the "old" astrometric
blue corrected camera. [Laing, p.30]
- Initially the telescope was mainly used for spectroscopy with particular reference to radial velocities and the determination of the orbits of spectroscopic binaries.
- Later it was used for parallax, miscellaneous photographic and photometry studies.
Current Information
Present Location:
Observatory
(Cape
Town)
Owner:
S.A.A.O.
Status:
Operational
Condition:
Technical Details
Type: Astrographic Refractor "It is a triple refractor with a 24 inch (60.96 cm) photographic objective, an 18 inch (45.72 cm) visual objective and an 8 inch (20.32 cm) guiding telescope all of 22.5 feet (685.8 cm) focal length" [Copied from Laing, p.30.]
Aperture:
Focal Length:
Lens:
Mounting:
Attachments:
Manufacturer: Grubb of Ireland. This company made instruments that were used in many Colonies of the British Empire. Due to the political situation in Ireland at the time, the workers perceived the company as being pro-British, and thus stalled construction. This meant that the telescope was completed a year late, in 1898. The objective lens had to be sent back for reconfiguring (probably due to sabotage by Grubb employees); thus the official opening only took place on 10 September 1901. Sir Walter Hely Hutchinson, Governor of the Cape Colony, performed the ceremony.
Building: The building that houses the telescope is most interesting with a moveable floor (hydraulically operated rising floor) and was designed by Sir Herbert Baker.
Operational History:
- Acquired in 1897.
- Overhauled and modernised in 1953. [Laing, p.30.]
Sources
Link
to the Main Bibliography
Section
and more information about Sources.
Documentation:
Pictorial Sources:
- Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings, p.30.
- Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, p. 78. (General Source)
Bibliography:
- Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings, p.30.
- Moore, P. & Collins, P., Astronomy in Southern Africa, p. 79. (General Source)
- Smits, P., A Brief History of Astronomy in Southern Africa. (Unpublished)
- McClean Telescope Celebrates its 100th Anniversary, MNASSA, Vol. 57, Nos. 3 & 4, 1998, April.
- Laing, J.D. (ed.), The Royal Observatory at the Cape of Good Hope 1820 - 1970 Sesquicentennial Offerings. p. 17.
|
news
> 