Model of Herschel's Telescope on display at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando Madrid Spain
Model of William Herschel's Telescope on display at the Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Royal Academy of Fine Arts of San Fernando, Madrid Spain. Museum text: Model of Herschel's Telescope. Wood and metal. 192x94cm. On loan from the Royal Observatory Madrid, belonging to the national Geographic Institute, 2014. This telescope had a structure of timber beams in a dihedral shape based on a decagonal figure. The maximum diagonal span was 920cm -about 30ft- and the height 880cm. The deconal figure was held by diagonal ribs crossing in its midpoint, where the turning axis of the structure was placed. The orientation and movement of the telescope tube and other moving elements -observation gallery, elevation seat- were achieved with metal elements such as racks, winches, pulleys and wheels, all operated with cranks. In this type of telescope -known as altazimuthal- orientation according to azimuth was achieved by gyrating the whole structure, and the telescope was moved for height adjustment. The telescope was mounted and tried out, with some improvements introduced by Herschel himself, then it was shipped from London in early 1802 and brought to its appropriate location in Madrid. Once mounted in place, the first astronomical data from it are dated 18 August, 1804.
Size: 3642px × 5444px
Location: Real Academia de Bellas Artes de San Fernando, Calle de Alcalá 13, 28014 Madrid, Spain
Photo credit: © Wiskerke / Alamy / Afripics
License: Licensed
Model Released: No
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