Paper, 'Of a telescope stand set up in the yard of Gresham College' by Robert Hooke

Description

Relates how a telescope stand was set up in the middle of the quadrangle at Gresham College. Includes Hooke's sketch of a 36 foot refractor telescope by Richard Reeve of Long Acre in a tube of 40 feet mounted in the courtyard of Gresham College, the tube being braced to prevent it bending under its own weight, and suspended from a mast by a system of pulleys and raised or lowered by a winch at the base. The suspension of the pulley could move around the mast, according to the direction required of the telescope. A rest for the eye end resembles an artist's easel, while at the foot of the page is a series of micrometers designed by Christopher Wren.

Hooke writes in the accompanying account as though it is a shared resource: there had been contributions to its design by different people in his circle and it was used by other astronomers as well as himself.

Subject: Astronomy

Reference number

CLP/20/61

Earliest possible date

17th century

Physical description

Ink on paper

Page extent

9 pages

Format

Manuscript