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Artefact gallery

Astronomical observing instruments and timekeeping

Astronomical observing instruments in conjunction with timekeeping devices were used to fix the positions of towns in Queensland in the 1890s.

  • Telescope used to observe zenith distances of east and west stars in pairs to determine local time
  • Artificial horizon observing tray
  • Small portable sextant
  • Ebony octant is like a sextant but with a smaller angle covered
  • Telescope used in 1921 to carry out visual tests
  • Grubb telescope being used
  • Kullberg clock used to provide the standard time service for Queensland from 1895 until 1935
  • Sextant is a portable astronomical instrument used for reading horizontal and vertical angles
  • Sidereal clock built in 1871 by Brisbane clock maker J Cochran
  • Clock used to provide the standard time service in Queensland from the 1930s until 1970s
  • Chronograph used to send time signals from the Brisbane observatory
  • Telescope used for observing the meridional transits of stars

In this guide:

  1. Distance measurement instruments
  2. Drafting and mapping instruments
  3. Angular measurement instruments
  4. Heighting instruments
  5. Surveying accessories
  6. Astronomical observing instruments and timekeeping
  7. Artefact gallery
  8. Photographic equipment
  9. Calculations

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Last updated:
13 March 2018
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