Grubb6 inch (15 cm) |
Index:
Summary; Technical; Sources; Links; Gallery:
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 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.
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 the Grubb company 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 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:
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.
Links
Gallery
Source: A.S.S.A. Archives: Peter Smits Collection