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Mirror
Second mirror for Herschel's 40ft reflector.
The mirror is in a circular frame.
The 40ft telescope was built between 1786 and 1789 to William Herschel's design and when built was the largest reflecting telescope in the world. The 48 inch mirrors (two mirrors were needed so that at any one time one could be polished while the other was mounted in the telescope) required a team of 24 people to polish it. The first 48 inch mirror for this telescope is at the Science Museum, London. The mirror is part of AST0947.
The mirror is in a circular frame.
The 40ft telescope was built between 1786 and 1789 to William Herschel's design and when built was the largest reflecting telescope in the world. The 48 inch mirrors (two mirrors were needed so that at any one time one could be polished while the other was mounted in the telescope) required a team of 24 people to polish it. The first 48 inch mirror for this telescope is at the Science Museum, London. The mirror is part of AST0947.
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Object Details
| ID: | AST0785 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Astronomical and navigational instruments |
| Type: | Mirror |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| Creator: | Herschel, William |
| Date made: | circa 1789 |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London. |
| Measurements: | Diameter: 1219.2 mm |