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The Kew Photoheliograph and Temporary Observatory at Rivabellosa, near Miranda del Ebro, 1860. Creator: Unknown
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The Kew Photoheliograph and Temporary Observatory at Rivabellosa, near Miranda del Ebro, 1860. Creator: Unknown
The Kew Photoheliograph and Temporary Observatory at Rivabellosa, near Miranda del Ebro, [Spain], 1860. The Kew photoheliograph consists of a tube having the form of a truncated pyramid, at the smaller (upper) end of which is fixed the object-glass, 3 4-10 inches in diameter, and 50 inches focal length. The focal image of the sun formed by the object-glass is 47-100ths of an inch in diameter; but before it is allowed to fall on the sensitive plate it is enlarged, by means of a secondary combination of lenses, to four inches in diameter. The image is thus magnified about eight times linear, and the intensity of its light diminished 64 times. The sensitive plates, six inches square, are placed at the large end of the pyramidal tube of the telescope. The tube is what is termed equatorially mounted, and is made to follow the diurnal motion of the sun by means of clockwork. The plates being only six inches square, while the sun's image is 4 inches in diameter, it will be seen that only a small extent of the corona could be depicted. I mention this in order that there may be no misconception on this point: had I desired to make photographs of the whole of the corona, I should have adopted a totally different arrangement'. From "Illustrated London News", 1860
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Media ID 36373747
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Astronomer Astronomers Camera Contraption Makeshift Observatory Scientist Scientists Telescope Photoheliograph
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EDITORS COMMENTS
This photograph depicts The Kew Photoheliograph and Temporary Observatory at Rivabellosa, near Miranda del Ebro, Spain, in 1860. The Kew Photoheliograph, an innovative solar observatory, was designed to capture images of the Sun's corona, the outermost layer of its atmosphere. The device consisted of a truncated pyramid-shaped tube, with a 3.4-10 inches diameter object-glass and a 50 inches focal length. The sun's image, formed by the object-glass, was only 0.047-0.100 inches in diameter, which was then enlarged by secondary lenses to four inches in diameter before being captured on six inches square sensitive plates. The telescope was equatorially mounted, allowing it to follow the sun's diurnal motion with the help of clockwork. However, due to the small size of the plates, only a limited extent of the corona could be depicted in each image. This photograph offers a glimpse into the groundbreaking solar research that took place during the late 19th century, when scientists were just beginning to understand the complexities of our Sun. The exact creator of this photograph remains unknown, but it was published in the Illustrated London News in 1860, providing a valuable record of this significant scientific achievement.
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