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Eyepiece
This eyepiece was probably made for a finder telescope. It has a focal length of 38mm. It has a brass mount with no thread and is fitted with cross-wires.
William Herschel's eyepieces, made for him by his younger brother Alexander are outstanding because of their magnifying power which was exceptionally high for the time.
In his 'Account of a Comet', read to the Royal Society in April 1781 (the comet in question was later confirmed to be Uranus) he referred to having 'ready at hand the several magnifiers of 227, 932, 1536, 2010, &c'. At the time a power of 270 was considered excellent, and his audiences disbelief at his claims of magnification was a serious hurdle in getting his discovery recognised.
William Herschel's eyepieces, made for him by his younger brother Alexander are outstanding because of their magnifying power which was exceptionally high for the time.
In his 'Account of a Comet', read to the Royal Society in April 1781 (the comet in question was later confirmed to be Uranus) he referred to having 'ready at hand the several magnifiers of 227, 932, 1536, 2010, &c'. At the time a power of 270 was considered excellent, and his audiences disbelief at his claims of magnification was a serious hurdle in getting his discovery recognised.
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Object Details
| ID: | AST0838 |
|---|---|
| Collection: | Astronomical and navigational instruments |
| Type: | Eyepiece |
| Display location: | Not on display |
| Creator: | Johann Alexander Herschel |
| Date made: | circa 1800 |
| People: | Herschel, William |
| Credit: | National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Herschel Collection |