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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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Standard Volume - Gallon, Primary Standard, Victoria, 1864
Primary standard gallon for Victoria, 1864. The measure has two handles, a strike disc and is housed in a wooden box. It was originally used by the Customs Department as the Imperial st ...
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 1 -
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Clock Suspension Springs
Clock suspension spring from Melbourne Observatory workshop, to be used for repairs on clocks if required. 6 thicknesses of spring in marked envelopes: 0.0015, 0.002, 0.003, 0.004, 0.0 ...
From: South Yarra, Australia Images: 0 -
Altitude & Azimuth Instrument - Troughton & Simms, London, 18 Inch, circa 1836
Altitude and azimuth instrument, or altazimuth, 18 inch circle, made by Troughton & Simms, London, circa 1836. This instrument was used for the Geodetic Survey of Victoria, 1858-71, whi ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 8 -
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Thermometer - Fahrenheit, Grimoldi
Fahrenheit thermometer, made by Grimoldi, Melbourne. Range +20 to 120 degrees. Used at Melbourne Observatory.
From: Melbourne, Australia Images: 0 -
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Tide Gauge Clock - J. Newman, London
Pendulum clock, made by J. Newman, London. Used to drive the recording apparatus of a self-registering tide-gauge [registered as ST 29815], which was erected at Williamstown by the Harb ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
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Marine Chronometer - Molyneux & Sons, London, No. 1438, circa 1830s
Marine chronometer by Molyneux & Sons, London, no. 1438, circa 1830s. This is one of the first two chronometers used by Government Astronomer Robert Ellery at the Williamstown Observat ...
From: London, United Kingdom Images: 0 -
Technical Report - Count Von Zeppelin's Dirigible Air Ship, 1901
A summary technical report on the first rigid airship built at Lake Constance by Count Ferdinand von Zeppelin. It is an extract from the Smithsonian Report for 1899, pp563-565. This cop ...
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Technical Report - Major B. Baden-Powell, Progress With Air Ships, 1904
A short summary of work on airship design up to 1903 by Major Baden F.S. Baden-Powell (1860-1937) of the Scots Guards. This copy was originally received by the Melbourne Observatory and ...
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Technical Report - S.P. Langley, Stories of Experiments in Mechanical Flight, 1898
A short summary of work on the design of heavier than air flying machines up to 1897 by Samuel Pierpont Langley. This copy was originally received by the Melbourne Observatory and held ...
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Technical Report - The Langley Aerodrome, 1901
A summary of work on the design of the Aerodrome, a heavier than air flying machine built by Samuel Pierpont Langley. This copy was originally received by the Melbourne Observatory and ...
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