Record

Reference numberCLP/20/61/3
Alternative reference numberCLP/20/61 p11
LevelItem
TitleDrawing, Telescope erected in Gresham College, with several associated devices by Robert Hooke
Date17th century
DescriptionRobert Hooke's drawing of a 36-foot telescope erected in the quadrangle of Gresham College, London. The drawing includes partial sketches of the College buildings. Dotted lines indicate the sections of an upright pole and supports that had been buried underground. Separate figures show a 'rete' or net of cross-hairs designed by Christopher Wren, intended to enable accurate drawings to be made of the objects observed (fig. 3); the bending of the horizontal and vertical lines of the net caused by the lens (fig. 4); a rest for the eyepiece end of the telescope (fig. 2); and an apparatus designed by Wren to enable accurate measurements to be made (fig. 5). The detail of the top of the pole shows a wind-vane pennant surmounted by Wren's model of Saturn as he envisaged the planet, which could be viewed from a number of angles to confirm his theory.

Subject: Astronomy
Extent1p
FormatManuscript
Physical descriptionInk on paper
Access statusOpen
Related records in the catalogueCLP/20/61
CLP/20/61/2
CLP/20/61/3
Fellows associated with this archive
CodeNameDates
NA8242Hooke; Robert (1635 - 1703); natural philosopher1635 - 1703
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