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Description: | The Natural Philosophy collection's astronomy equipment covers two-and-a-half-centuries. The collection is a reflection of Aberdeen University's commitment to teaching astronomy as part of its curriculum and to periods of astronomy related research, including solar physics and radio astronomy in the 20th Century. The University's first telescopes acquired in the early 18th century don't survive. The earliest extant instrument is a James Short reflector of 1740 purchased by Patrick Copland. Copland went on to become the driving force in establishing Scotland's first public observatory, at the Castlehill site. The observatory was funded by local bodies and the gentlemen of Aberdeen and the neighbouring country (Reid, 1982). Copland's connection with important figures such as the Third Earl of Bute (1713 - 1792), an amateur astronomer of great enthusiasm and wealth, were fundamental to the success of the observatory. The observatory had to be relocated in 1792, to make way for new infantry barracks, and finding no suitable independent site the observatory was removed to the roof of the Marischal College buildings. This building was demolished in 1837 and the observatory was not included in the replacement but by this time neighbouring King's College had built an astronomical observatory, although it had yet to be well equipped. A summary of the history of the University's astronomical telescopes by the honorary curator of the Natural Philosophy collection, Dr J Reid, can be found at: http://www.abdn.ac.uk/~nph126/article/Histelesc.pdf The collection covers five general areas of astronomy: Angular measurement; Photography; Telescopes; Time measurement and Radio Astronomy. Some collection highlights with contextual information are discussed by Dr Reid on his page referenced above and include: A large equatorial for precision astronomy by Sisson and Ramsden; the first general purpose telescope at King's College (associated with the young Sir David Gill KCB FRS, one of the most highly respected observational astronomers in the second half of the 19th century); an astronomical clock made by Patrick Copland and John King which shows the apparent motion of the sun and moon and stars as in the sky, as well as telling the solar and lunar time and a Transit telescope designed by Latimer Clark, surviving examples of which are rare. The collection includes several telescopes by Dollond.
Access to the collection is restricted and all enquiries should be sent to Dr J Reid, the honorary curator. Information compiled in consultation with the Honorary Curator.
Super collection: Natural Philosophy Collection.
Objects: Divided object glass micrometer; transit spirit level; transit mount; Short Gregorian reflecting telescope 3" aperture; Transit telescope; refracting telescope 1'; refracting telescope 3'; Divided object glass micrometer; Table top telescope; telescope stand; Telescope eyepiece; student spectroscope; spectrometer telescope; binocular eyepiece; telescope lens; transit lamp; Astronomical Refracting Telescope; universal equatorial instrument; Dollond's refracting telescope 2 3/4'; Ross refracting telescope 3 3/8''; Dollond refracting telescope 3 5/8'; Ross refracting telescope 3 and 5/8"; Radio telescope receiver; Master clock; Planisphere; Celestial globe; Fibreglass container (Get Away Special); astronomical clock (sidereal); auroral camera. | Source: | University of Aberdeen | Address: | King's College,
AB24 3FX | Identifier: | ABDNP:CLD03 | Go to resource |
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