The large equatorial coudé telescope

The large equatorial coudé telescope
Extrait du Observatoire de Paris centre de recherche et enseignement en astronomie et
astrophysique relevant du Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la Recherche.
https://www.obspm.fr/the-large-equatorial-coude-telescope.html
The large equatorial coudé
telescope
Date de mise en ligne : lundi 4 février 2013
Observatoire de Paris centre de recherche et enseignement en astronomie et
astrophysique relevant du Ministère de l'Enseignement supérieur et de la
Recherche.
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The large equatorial coudé telescope
The large equatorial coudé telescope is an original instrument conceived by Maurice
Loewy ; it was in constant use from 1891 to 1939. Only a few parts of this instrument still
exist, as well as the building in which it was housed.
In the gardens of the Observatory can be seen a millstone faced building in rather poor condition. It carries the date
; behind it is a sort of large, rusty, metallic hangar. What is it ?
These buildings housed an instrument invented by Maurice Loewy (1833-1907) who was the Director of the
Observatory from 1897 until his death. In 1874, Loewy presented to the Council of the Observatory a model of an
equatorial instrument with two mirrors ; its purpose was to reduce observing fatigue by enabling the observer to
remain immobile. »
The first instrument designed according to this principle was built in 1882 : this was the small equatorial coudé
telescope. It has since disappeared ; however, six other instruments of this type were built during the period 1884
to 1892. Two are still in their original state in the Lyon and Algiers observatories ; there is another one in the Nice
observatory, but it has been modified.
The large equatorial coudé telescope of the Paris Observatory A. Fraissinet - La Nature, vol. 19, 1891
The eyepiece of the large equatorial coudé telescope of the Paris Observatory
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The large equatorial coudé telescope
The largest one was inaugurated in Paris in 1891 in the building which was finished in 1889. It cost 400 000 francs,
including the building, which is equivalent to 1,2 million euros : this was the large equatorial coudé telescope.
It was used to take magnificent photographs of the moon and stellar spectra ; it was abandoned in 1939. Most of its
parts still exist, but its restoration would require a very significant budget.
Photographic atlas of the Moon M. Loewy and P. Puiseux. - Paris, 1896-1910
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