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Transits of Venus, 1874 & 1882
Image: Melbourne Observatory
Source: Museum Victoria
Transits of planets across the face of the Sun were highly important astronomical events, because they could provide data that would assist in calculating the distance between the Sun and Earth, and hence the distances of all the planets from the Sun. These matters were of fundamental scientific importance, because they provided data for analysing the subtleties of the solar system and the gravitational interactions of the planets and the Sun; they also had practical consequences for navigation.
However transits could only be observed from a narrow band on the Earth's surface. Transits of Venus were also exceedingly rare, occurring in pairs only every century or more. The primary purpose of Captain James Cook's first voyage to the Pacific in 1768-1771 had been to make observations of the Transit of Venus on behalf of the Royal Society.
Melbourne Observatory took full advantage of the two Transits of Venus that occurred in 1874 and 1882. The Victorian Parliament provided additional funds to purchase an 8 inch equatorial telescope and a photoheliograph (a specially designed telescope to take photos of the Sun). Two field observatories were also established, to reduce the chance that cloud would spoil the observations. Government Astronomer Robert Ellery and his assistants aided American and German expeditions to Tasmania and New Zealand, by making measurements of stars that would help them locate the precise longitude of their temporary observatories.
The Melbourne astronomers made observations of the 1875 transit at the Observatory, Bendigo, Mornington and Glenrowan. In 1882 observations were made by the Melbourne astronomers from Hobart and Sale. Both sets of results were sent to the Greenwich Observatory in Britain to be added to the observations made from other expeditionary parties.
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Digital Image - View of Melbourne Observatory, circa 1900
Image of Melbourne Observatiory, reproduced on a postcard, circa 1900. It depicts the main building, with the Astrograph House on the right.
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Glass Plate Box - Plate Carrier, Great Melbourne Telescope, 1870s
Wooden box used for carrying glass photographic plates and their holders for the Great Melbourne Telescope at the Melbourne Observatory, 1870s.
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Hood - South Collimator, Melbourne Observatory, circa 1880s
Hood for the South Collimator Field Lens at Melbourne Observatory, circa 1880s. The South Collimator was erected some distance south on the meridian line of the 8 inch transit telescope ...
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Photograph - Melbourne Observatory House, South Yarra, Victoria, 1935
View of Melbourne Observatory House, the residence of the Victorian Government Astronomer, 1935. Photograph taken by Rolf Baldwin, son of the third Government Astronomer, Joseph Baldwi ...
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Photograph - Melbourne Observatory House, South Yarra, Victoria, 1935
View of Melbourne Observatory House, the residence of the Victorian Government Astronomer, 1935. Photograph taken by Rolf Baldwin, son of the third Government Astronomer, Joseph Baldwi ...
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Photograph - View of Buildings at Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, circa 1937
View of the main building at Melbourne Observatory, taken from the southeast. From the left, the buildings visible are the Astrograph House, rear of main building, 8 inch transit house, ...
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Photograph - Manna Gum, Grounds of Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Victoria, 1933
Photograph of the grounds of Melbourne Observatory, taken by Rolf Baldwin, son of the third Government Astronomer, Joseph Baldwin, 1933.
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Photograph - Great Melbourne Telescope, Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, circa 1875
Photograph of the Great Melbourne Telescope House at Melbourne Observatory, by Charles Nettleton, circa 1875. The photograph has been taken from the roof of the main Melbourne Observa ...
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Photograph - Orion Nebula, Taken with the Great Melbourne Telescope, Victoria, 26 Feb 1883
Photograph of Orion Nebula, taken by Joseph Turner with the Great Melbourne Telescope on 26 Feb 1883, with an exposure of 4 minutes.
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Photograph - K Crucis, Taken With The Great Melbourne Telescope, Victoria, 3 Mar 1883
Photograph of the Kappa Crucis Cluster, named the 'Jewel Box', in the constellation of Crux. Photograph taken by Joseph Turner with the Great Melbourne Telescope on March 3 1883, with a ...
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