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The Pamphlet Collection of Sir Robert Stout: Volume 50

Description of the Building

Description of the Building.

During February and March, 1880, the old observatory building, which stood a [unclear: we] feet west of the main University edifice, was moved and enlarged. It now stands [unclear: if] the beautiful eminence in the Campus near the Chalybeate Spring. The meridian [unclear: he] of each pier now passes between the University Building and the President's [unclear: mansion]. In this position a good horizon is secured. In the old position the horizon [unclear: is] obstructed on the north by the Scientific Building, and on the east by the [unclear: University] Building.

The old dome was found to be too small for the Equatorial recently purchased, [unclear: and] a brick addition was made at the east end for the accommodation of this [unclear: instruct]. The whole building is sixty three feet long, from east to west, and fronts at.

The Equatorial room (A) is in the form of a regular octagonal prism surmounted [unclear: fa] hemispherical dome. Its width on the inside is 18 feet; the ceiling of the lower [unclear: part] is 10 1-5 feet high, and the top of the dome is 14? feet above the second floor.

The dome revolves upon six grooved wheels of cast iron, which run on a circular [unclear: rail]. Motion is communicated to the dome by a train of wheel work gearing to a [unclear: rim] of cogs attached to the interior face of the base plate of the dome.

The aperture in the dome, which is 22 inches wide, and extends a little beyond [unclear: he] zenith, is closed by four shutters.

The pier for the support of the Telescope is built of hard brick laid in hydraulic [unclear: cement]. It extends 6 feet below the surface of the earth, and is 6 feet square at the [unclear: as]. That part of the pier which is below the first floor is in the form of a square [unclear: rism], and is surrounded by a brick wall, which does not touch the pier, in order to [unclear: event] the communication of vibrations by the passing of carriages and wagons. [unclear: The] top of the pier is four feet [unclear: square], that portion of it above the first floor being in the form of the frustum of a square pyramid. Upon the top of the pier is laid a [unclear: quaere] cap-stone, 4 feet square and 5 inches thick, which supports, by 4 bearings, lie wooden stand on which the Telescope is mounted.

The Alt-azimuth room (C) is 13½ feet long from east to west, 13 1-5 feet wide, [unclear: and] the ceiling of the lower part is 9¾ feet high. It is surmounted by a roof in the [unclear: Kim] of a cone, which revolves on three cannon balls.

page 48
The New Observatory.

The New Observatory.

page 49

The aperture in this dome, which is 15 inches wide, is closed by two shutters. [unclear: pier], which extends 4 feet into the ground, is built of the same kind of material, in the same manner as that of the Equatorial.

The transit room (B) is situated between the Equatorial room and the [unclear: Altnuth] room. It is 28½ feet long from east to west, 131-5 feet wide, and 8 feet high high. [unclear: a] room contains three piers, constructed as those already described, for the support of the Transit Instrument, the Transit Theodolite, and the Sidereal Clock, [unclear: are] are two meridian observing slits 17 inches wide, one for the Transit Instruct, [unclear: at] the other for the Transit Theodolite. These slits begin 4 feet 5 inches from floor and extend through the roof, thus affording an uninterrupted view of the [unclear: industrial] meridian down to the horizon.

All these rooms are now lighted by gas.