Add to albumThis reflecting telescope was made in the 18th century, possibly by Edward Scarlett, an eminent scientific instrument maker who was based in London between 1705 and 1743.
This three-and-a-half inch aperture reflecting telescope, although unsigned and undated, is probably amongst the earliest surviving commercially-produced London-made instruments of this sort.
James Gregory was one of the first to exploit the mathematical equivalence of mirrors and lenses as optical imaging systems. His design of a reflecting telescope in 1663 demonstrated the clear potential of reflectors.
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- Online ID: 000-100-102-818-C
- Image Rights Holder: National Museums Scotland
- Project:
National Museums Scotland
Project description View all records in project
- Ref: National Museums Scotland T.1984.91
- Date: 18th century
- Material: Telescope, reflecting
- Dimensions: 3.50" aperture
- What: Telescope, reflecting
- Subject: 22. PHYSICS, Light (Departmental Classification)
- Who: Edward Scarlett, England (Maker)
- Where: England, London
- Event:
- Description: 3 1/2" aperture Gregorian reflecting telescope by Edward Scarlett, London, 18th century
- References:
- For Scarlett, see Clifton, Gloria, Directory of British Scientific Instrument Makers 1550-1851. London: 1995, pp 244-5
- Translations:
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