Eyepiece micrometer

This is a parallel wire distance eyepiece micrometer which is a type of filar micrometer. This micrometer has no thread and is made up of a brass frames only, with a screw scale for counting revolutions, and small brass circle.

It would probably have been used to measure the distance between stars or between nebulae, star clusters and stars by the maker's older brother, William Herschel.

Object Details

ID: AST0861
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Eyepiece micrometer
Display location: Not on display
Creator: Herschel, William; Johann Alexander Herschel
Date made: circa 1800
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London, Herschel Collection
Measurements: Overall: 20 mm x 95 mm x 42 mm