User:Clearfrienda/Articles/Drafts/2024/Radcliffe Telescope
Location(s) | |
---|---|
Diameter | 74 in (1.9 m) |
Mounting | Cross-axis equatorial |
Enclosure | Turret |
Website | SAAO Homepage |
] |
The Radcliffe Telescope is a 74 in (1.9 m)
When construction was completed in 1948, the Radcliffe was the largest telescope in the Southern Hemisphere, and the joint-fourth largest in the world.[note 1][1] It is currently the second largest in Africa.[note 2]
<stuff about history of the telescope - construction, move to Sutherland etc>
The telescope is equipped with a range of instruments operating for photometry, spectroscopy and polarimetry. These are used by professional astronomers to conduct a wide range of astronomical research. <Give some examples>
History
Origins
When he died in 1714, the English
In 1924
Equally clear was that this new telescope could not be sited in Oxford. Since the Observatory had been established the city had expanded considerably, and there was now significant
Planning
In addition to undertaking routine observations, Knox-Shaw began planning for a new telescope and observatory. Before becoming Radcliffe Observer, Knox-Shaw had served at the
<expand, mention southern, ESO + CTIO not until 60s. mention observatories at Cape and Johannesburg>
In 1928 funding for the 200 in (5.1 m) Hale Telescope was approved, which was to be built at Palomar Observatory, California.[4] This massive (and extremely expensive) telescope would have four times the collecting area of the next largest in the world, and would easily outperform anything that the Radcliffe Observatory could construct. This effectively settled the argument in favour of erecting the new telescope in the Southern hemisphere.
Although the case for building a new large telescope in the Southern hemisphere was compelling, initially no funds were available to Knox-Shaw. In 1929 a potential solution to this problem was found: the millionaire philanthropist
With the offer of funding in place, in 1929 the Radcliffe Trust asked the
<1930 start negotiating with Grubb Parsons, initially for a 72 inch. 1931 sale of the old observatory completed. Legal hearings, which take up to 1934. Then changed to a modified copy of the DDO 74 inch.<Glass1989> Contract signed in 1935 <Glass1978>, precise date is in 1951ASPL....6..170K
Construction
Radcliffe Observatory, Pretoria
<blah>
<More details on Evans at http://aas.org/node/4094 >
In its early years of operation, the telescope suffered from a lack of scientific instrumentation. For over a year the only observations possible were direct photography, and
The main cause of these problems was a lack of funding, which had also limited staff numbers and the amount of observing which could be undertaken. These problems were alleviated in 1951, when the Radcliffe Observatory entered into an agreement with the
<stuff> <Funding, Cape observers, British government involvement>
<science stuff should go below, not follow the history>
After he retired, Knox-Shaw had continued to live in South Africa, but died in 1970 at the age of 85. His ashes were scattered on the observatory grounds. In recognition of his leading role in the construction of the telescope, a bronze memorial plaque was installed on the north pier of the telescope. It reads:
IN MEMORIUM
HAROLD KNOX-SHAW
1885-1970
RADCLIFFE OBSERVER, 1924-1950. THROUGH WHOSE LABOURS
THE RADCLIFFE OBSERVATORY AND THIS TELESCOPE
WERE SET UP UNDER THE SOUTHERN SKIES
TO THE LASTING BENEFIT OF ASTRONOMY.
HE HAS LOVED THE STARS TOO TRULY
TO BE FEARFUL OF THE NIGHT[2]
Move to Sutherland
Design
Optics
Mounting
Dome
Operations
Instruments
The scientific instruments currently available for use on the Radcliffe Telescope are[8]:
- Grating spectrograph
<discuss>
- GIRAFFE
<discuss>
- HIPPO
<discuss>
- SAAO CCD
<discuss>
- UCT CCD
<discuss>
Scientific research
Pretoria
Used to discover
Sutherland
Recent highlights
Future developments
Photos
To be uploaded / edited / incorporated
Star party next to the dome [1]
Scans of old photos on Flickr. User claims copyright, but they must be from 1938 [2]
Image of the telescope in Pretoria [3]
Spectrograph in use in Pretoria. SPL/RAS copyright, but could be fair use? [4]
Harold Knox-Shaw [5]
Notes
- Hooker Telescope and the 82 in (2.1 m) Otto Struve Telescope.
- ^ In 2005 the neighbouring Southern African Large Telescope (9.2m) overtook the Radcliffe to become the largest in Africa.
References
- ^
Glass, I. S. (1987). "Proposal for a Large Telescope in South Africa". Bibcode:1987MNSSA..46..147G.
- ^ a b c d e f g h
Glass, I. S. (1989). "The Story of the Radcliffe Telescope". Bibcode:1989QJRAS..30...33G.
- ^ a b c d
Thackeray, A. D. (1972). "Two Hundred Years of the Radcliffe Observatory". Nature. 239 (5371): 313–5. PMID 12635217.
- ^ "Caltech Astronomy : History: 1908-1949". Palomar Observatory website. California Institute of Technology. Retrieved 5 June 2011.
- ^ UK Retail Price Index inflation figures are based on data from Clark, Gregory (2017). "The Annual RPI and Average Earnings for Britain, 1209 to Present (New Series)". MeasuringWorth. Retrieved 7 May 2024.
- ^ a b c
Bibcode:1935MNRAS..95..447S.)
{{cite journal}}
: More than one of|author2=
and|last2=
specified (help - ^ a b c d e f g h i j k Glass, I.S. (2009). "Andrew David Thackeray at the Radcliffe Observatory" (PDF). Transactions of the .
- ^ "1.9-m (Radcliffe) Telescope". SAAO website. South African Astronomical Observatory. 23 February 2010. Retrieved 13 September 2011.
- ^
Thackeray, A. D. (1950). "Some southern stars involved in nebulosity". Monthly Notices of the Royal Astronomical Society. 110: 524. Bibcode:1950MNRAS.110..524T.
External links
- Official SAAO website
- Description from the Astronomical Society of Southern Africa
- Pathe newsreel footage from 1938