List of largest optical telescopes in the 18th century

List of largest optical telescopes in the 18th century, are listings of what were, for the time period of the 18th century, large optical telescopes. The list includes various refractor and reflector that were active some time between about 1699 to 1801. It is oriented towards astronomy, not terrestrial telescopes (e.g. spyglass).

Selected Reflectors & Refractors

The main telescope technologies during this period were refractors with non-achromatic objectives (single lens), speculum metal reflectors, refractors with achromatic doublets objective (doublet lens), and apochromatic triplets (after 1760s) objectives. The list is inherently limited by what examples and records survived.

Legend


Name(s) Aperture
cm (in)
Type Significance Location then/Original Site Extant*
Herschel 40-foot (1.26 m diameter)[1]126 cm(49.5″)ReflectorWorld's largest 1789Observatory House; England1789–1815
Rev John Michell's Gregorian reflector[2]75 cm (29.5″)Reflector - GregorianWorld's largest 1780Yorkshire, Great Britain1780–1789
Herschel "X Feet"[3] or "Large 10 Feet"[4]61 cm (24″)ReflectorEngland1800
Father Noel's Gregorian reflector[2]60 cm (23.5″)Reflector - GregorianWorld's largest 1761Paris, France1761
James Short Gregorian reflector50 cm (19.5")Reflector - GregorianWorld's largest 1750Scotland1750
Schröter 27 foot Newtonian[3]47 cm (18.5")ReflectorLilienthal, Lower Saxony (Germany)1793
Herschel 20-foot[5][6]47 cm (18.5″)ReflectorObservatory House; England1782
James Short Reflector for King of Spain[3]46 cm (18.1″)Reflector - GregorianSpain1752
James Short's Gregorian reflector38 cm (14″)Reflector - GregorianWorld's largest 1734Scotland1734
Huygens aerial for Royal Society of London[7]19 cm (7.5″)aerialLondon, England1691-1786[8]
William Herschel 7-foot[7]16 cm (6.3″)ReflectorDiscovered Georgium SidusEngland1776–1783
Hadley's Reflector[9]15 cm (6″)ReflectorFirst parabolic newtonianEngland1721
Van Deyl of Amsterdam telescope[10]11.4 cm (4.5″)achromatEngland1781
Shuckburgh telescope10 cm (4.1″)achromatFirst large equatorial[11]Warwickshire, England1791–1923
Dollond Apochromatic Triplet[12]9.53 cm (3.75″)apochromatFirst apochromatic tripletEngland1763[12]
Francesco Bianchini's aerial telescope[13]6.6 cm (2.6")aerialRome, Italy1726
Chester Moore Hall's Doublet[7]6.4 cm (2.5")achromatFirst achromatic doubletEngland1733
Troughton Equatorial Telescope[14]5.08 cm (2")achromatEquatorial mountArmagh Observatory, Ireland1795
Newton's reflector[15] (1st)3.3 cm (1.3")ReflectorFirst reflecting telescopeEngland1668-1704[15]

* (First light or Build Completion to Inactive or Deconstruction)

See also

References

  1. "Original mirror for William Herschel's 40 foot telescope, 1785". Science & Society Picture Library. Retrieved 22 November 2008.
  2. 1 2 Henry C. King, The History of the Telescope - page 91
  3. 1 2 3 Henry C. King, The History of the Telescope - page 135
  4. 'The Herschel Chronicle - Page 92
  5. http://www.maa.clell.de/Messier/E/Xtra/Bios/wherschel.html
  6. http://www.nasm.si.edu/exhibitions/gal111/universe/etu_a_herschel.htm
  7. 1 2 3 Paul Schlyter, Largest optical telescopes of the world
  8. Cavendish - By Christa Jungnickel, Russell McCormmach - Pages 306 to 308
  9. http://amazing-space.stsci.edu/resources/explorations//groundup/lesson/scopes/hadley/index.php
  10. The Horological Journal - October, 1876 - Page 20
  11. Refracting telescope on equatorial mounting, 1791
  12. 1 2 Title: The invention and early development of the achromatic telescope, Authors: King, H. C., Journal: Popular Astronomy, Vol. 56, p.75, Bibliographic Code: 1948PA.....56...75K, Page 83
  13. Moore, P, "The Mapping of Venus", BRITISH ASTRON. ASSOC. JOURNAL V. 95, NO.2/FEB, P. 50, 1985
  14. http://www.arm.ac.uk/history/troughton/frames.html
  15. 1 2 The History of the Telescope By Henry C. King, Page 74

Further reading

  • Istituto e museo di storia della scienza (Italy); Albert Van Helden (1999). Catalogue of Early Telescopes. Giunti Editore. ISBN 978-88-09-21680-8.
  • OUTLINE OF 18TH CENTURY ASTRONOMY - NYSkies Astronomy
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