Zenith sector

This telescope was constructed by George Graham in 1727 for Bradley's personal use in studying the parallax of the star Gamma Draconis. When he was appointed third Astronomer Royal in 1742, Bradley only agreed to bring this instrument to Greenwich after the Government paid him the princely sum of £45 for it. With it he discovered two major phenomena: the aberration of light and the nutation (wobbling) of the Earth's axis. It was used at Greenwich until 1837.

Object Details

ID: AST0992
Collection: Astronomical and navigational instruments
Type: Telescope
Display location: Display - ROG
Creator: Graham, George
Date made: 1727
Credit: National Maritime Museum, Greenwich, London
Measurements: Overall: 3810 x 72 mm
Parts: Zenith sector