Telescope, zenith

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Ingenium, 2002.0291.001
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OBJECT TYPE: photographic
DATE: 1967–1968
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 2002.0291.001

MANUFACTURER: U.S. Naval Observatory
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: Washington, District of Columbia, United States of America

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 1
Total Parts: 42
AKA: N/A
Patents: N/A
General Description: METAL, GLASS, AND SYNTHETIC MATERIALS OF CONSTRUCTION.

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length: 66.0 cm
Width: 55.0 cm
Height: 220.0 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: N/A
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Astronomy
Category: Observation equipment
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: Defense US
Country: United States of America
State/Province: District of Columbia
City: Washington

Context

Country: Canada
State/Province: Ontario
Period: THIS PZT USED C. 1968-EARLY 1990S.
Canada: 2ND, LATER PHOTOGRAPHIC ZENITH TELESCOPE (PZT) BUILT AT US NAVAL OBSERVATORY C. 1967-8, AND USED AT DOMINION OBS. IN OTTAWA UNTIL EARLY 1990S. IT REPLACED ORIGINAL PZT BUILT IN 1951 BY DOMINION OBSERVATORY SHOPS (PRECISION COMPONENTS); VICKERS LTD., MONTREAL (CASTINGS); AND PERKIN ELMER CO., GLENBROOK, CT (OBJECTIVE). ( REF.1)
Function: USED TO MEASURE LATITUDE, AND FOR TIME DETERMINATION.
Technical: PZT IS VERTICALLY MOUNTED TELESCOPE USING POOL OF MERCURY AT BOTTOM TO ENSURE THE LINE OF SIGHT IS EXACTLY TO/AT THE ZENITH. CONCEIVED BY SIR GEORGE AIRY IN 1854, THE 1ST PZT WAS BUILT C.1909 BY FRANK ROSS. IN 1911 IT WAS PLACED IN OPERATION IN MARYLAND FOR USE BY THE US COAST & GEODETIC SURVEY. BY 1960, 9 OTHERS WERE BUILT & INSTALLED IN OBSERVATORIES AROUND THE WORLD. (REF. 1)
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: Plate mounted on lens housing reads "THE PERKIN ELMER CORPORATION/ NORWALK CONNECTICUT/ EFL 454 CM. CA. 20 CM./ BFL 455 CM. SER. NO. 5". Various markings, handwritten & incised, used as alignment references. Individual components bear mfg. info.. Asset no. decal on cylinder, below lens mounting, reads "GR64218/ DO NOT REMOVE THIS TAG".
Missing: SOME MINOR COMPONENTS AND ACCESSORY EQ. MISSING. PLEASE SEE CONDITION REPORT FOR DETAILS. NB: SUPPORTING FRAME FOR PZT MFD AND INSTALLED BY CSTM.
Finish: DULL & BRIGHT SILVER METAL FINISHES; CLEAR GLASS LENS; CLEAR SYNTHETIC COVER PROTECTS MOTOR AND DRIVE GEARS. BLACK ENAMEL FINISH ON MOTOR HOUSING & OTHER MINOR PARTS.
Decoration: N/A

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If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

U.S. Naval Observatory, Telescope, zenith, circa 1967–1968, Artifact no. 2002.0291, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collections.ingeniumcanada.org/en/item/2002.0291.001/

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