Instruments and miscellaneous relics

LIBRARY

Instruments and miscellaneous relics

The Society formerly operated a collection of instruments for loan to members, but over the years this became a burden and many of the instruments obsolete or historic. The main collection was wound up in the early 1980s; many of the more important instruments remain on loan to museums and observatories, some were sold, and a small display was set up in the Fellows' Room at Burlington House. See Derek Howse's article for a full list of the former collection (Quarterly Journal of the Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 27, 1986, 212–236).

Apart from the instruments and clocks we have various items of memorabilia such as a small log (warranted genuine!) from Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree!

Log from Sir Isaac Newton's apple tree

Francis Baily's 2" telescope