THE KING TELESCOPE

Dominion, Volume 12, Issue 190, 7 May 1919, Page 6

THE KING TELESCOPE

MOUNTED "AT KELBURN OBSERVA TORY. Members. of the Astronomical Section of the Wellington Philosophical Institute met at the Kelburn Observatory last night' to examine, tho King equatorial telescope, which ha 6 now been mounted. The eky was clouded'and no observation was possible, but some of the details Of tho instrument and its mounting were explained by Mr. A. C. Gifford, president of the section, and the Government Astronomer (Dr. Adams). ' The King telescope is a SJ-ineh equatorial, by Sir Howard Grubo, of Eubliri, Vith clock-work attachment and a cast, iron stand. It is an excellent instrument and a fine example of the sound workmanship of Sir Howard Grubb. Ihe telescope with its accessories and a number of publications on astronomy were presented to the Wellington Philosophical Society for the use of the astronomical section by Miss Jessie King, as a gift in remembrance of her brother, I lie Into Mr. Thomas King, and of Ins long association with the Wellington Philosophical Society and with the Government Observatory. , Tho astronomical section lias had tne telescope erected in the small eciufl.* torial building at Kelburn, and to carry this work out a number of alterations tad to be mado. The cast-iron stand is mounted on a concrete block and is.ouito separate from the floor of the building. The floor of tho observing room lias been lowered to suit the telesconc! and . the original shutter, made in three P has been replaced by a one-piece shuttei, and the numerous counter-weights, pulleys, and wires of the old shutter ha>e first time. the astronomical gjction has had the use ot on telescope driven bv a clock, and it lj expected that tho telescope will be used to its full capacity. The equatorial mounting is very rigid and will carry astronomical cameras and other accessories in addition to tho visual .telesscope. Orders have been placed for additional necessary apparatus, including an objective prism, a wedge photometer, and an eye-piece micrometer. The telescope will be available for educational work Hid will be used for this purpose some Tuesday evenings, when the observatory will be open to the public Tho telescope will also be usecl tor astronomical research by members of tho section. Arrangements are now being made with' tho Kolburn Tram Company for tho issue of an obsorvatoru ticket, which will include the tram fare and admission to tho observatory. In aildition to work at the observatory, tho astronomical section conducts a number of meetings during the winter which aro usually hold at the Dominion Museum and aro opon to those interested.