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Dictionary of Sydney

The Dictionary of Sydney
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Astronomy

The Dictionary of Sydney was archived in 2021.

Astronomy

Subject

Sydney Observatory building

Parramatta Observatory

Red Hill observatory

Dawes, William

Dunlop, James

Nangle, James

Russell, Henry Chamberlain

Rümker, Christian Karl Ludwig

Scott, William

Assistant astronomer Ernest Adderley at the Sydney Observatory looking through 6 inch telescope 18 February 1941

Cover of 'Observations of the transit of Venus, 9 December 1874: made at stations in New South Wales ... under the direction of H.C. Russell, Government Astronomer' 1892

HC Russell, CMG BA FRS FRAS 1898

Mary Allen at the Sydney Observatory using astrographic plates to calculate the relative distances between stars February 1941

Mr HC Russell, the Government Astronomer, The Bulletin 9 October 1880

Observatory and the signalling station, Observatory Hill, Sydney 1870-75

Radio astronomers at Sydney University for the 1952 URSI General Assembly

Sydney Observatory (H.C. Russell in doorway) c1860

Sydney Observatory c1900

Sydney Observatory, Sydney 1872

Dr Nick Lomb on the history of the Observatory 2009

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Astronomy

Sydney Observatory building

William Dawes established the first observatory in Sydney at the western point of Sydney Cove in 1788, not far from the eventual site of Sydney Observatory on the hill above. Built in 1856, the Observatory remained an important contributor to astronomy, as well as shipping and meteorology, until 1982.

Parramatta Observatory

Constructed in 1821-22 for Sir Thomas Brisbane and the astronomers Carl Rumker and James Dunlop, it operated until 1847 and many of the instruments were then re-used when the Sydney observatory was opened in 1858.

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Red Hill observatory

Branch of Sydney Observatory built in 1890 on Red Hill at the corner of Beecroft and Pennant Hills Roads, Pennant Hills. The site is now known as Observatory Park.

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Dawes, William

Officer of marines with the First Fleet, who set up an observatory, explored the Nepean, and became an authority on the Sydney language during his three years in the colony.

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Dunlop, James

Astronomer at Parramatta Observatory from 1821, and superintendent from 1831-47.

full record »

Nangle, James

Architect, educator and astronomer who helped reorganise technical education in Sydney.

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Russell, Henry Chamberlain

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Astronomer and meteorologist who invented and made many instruments, and was the first to think comprehensively about the southern hemisphere in a global approach to meteorology.

Rümker, Christian Karl Ludwig

German mathematician and sailor who interest in astronomy led him to work at Governor Brisbane's private observatory at Parramatta from 1821-1823. He was appointed the first government astronomer in 1827 and went to London in 1829 for astronomical instruments. He was dismissed from the government's service after a quarrel with the head of the Royal Astronomical Society, and did not return to Sydney. His name was often recorded as Charles or Carl Runker or Rumcker.

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Scott, William

The first government astronomer appointed to the Sydney Observatory.

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Assistant astronomer Ernest Adderley at the Sydney Observatory looking through 6 inch telescope 18 February 1941

full record »

By

Stan (Frederick Stanley) Grimes

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 388/Box 028/Item 125]

(Mitchell Library)

Cover of 'Observations of the transit of Venus, 9 December 1874: made at stations in New South Wales ... under the direction of ...

full record »

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[Nq 523.96 RUS]

HC Russell, CMG BA FRS FRAS 1898

full record »

By

John Hubert Newman

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

(Detail from 'The Australasian Association for the Advancement of Science ... members of the Council, 1898') (Mitchell Library)

Mary Allen at the Sydney Observatory using astrographic plates to calculate the relative distances between stars February 1941

full record »

By

Charles E Wakeford

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ ON 388/Box 033/Item 189]

(Mitchell Library)

Mr HC Russell, the Government Astronomer, The Bulletin 9 October 1880

full record »

Contributed By

National Library of Australia

[The Bulletin, 9 October 1880 via Trove]

Observatory and the signalling station, Observatory Hill, Sydney 1870-75

full record »

By

American & Australasian Photographic Company

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[ON 4 Box 60 No 336]

(Mitchell Library)

Radio astronomers at Sydney University for the 1952 URSI General Assembly

full record »

Contributed By

[Astronomy and Space Science Historical Photographic Archive B2842-43]

Sydney Observatory (H.C. Russell in doorway) c1860

full record »

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

Sydney Observatory c1900

full record »

Contributed By

Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences

Sydney Observatory, Sydney 1872

full record »

By

Charles Percy Pickering

From the collections of the

State Library of New South Wales

[a1107018 / PXD 524, 16]

Dr Nick Lomb on the history of the Observatory 2009

full record »

By

Courtesy:

City of Sydney Council

Sciences