Galpin Museum

Galpin Observatory Museum, Grahamstown

Index:

Current Info; Summary; History; Astronomers; Programmes; Instruments; Sources; Links; Gallery:

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)