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The Astronomy Department at the University of Minnesota owns a 10 inch Warner & Swasey Refracting telescope. Between 2005 and 2006, Paul Robinson and John Martin refurbished this instrument and enhanced the public outreach events built around it.
Helpful Documents
Helpful Documents
General
General
I have cataloged 415 total plates in the collection. The plates fall into three categories. 362 are 6"x7" sized plates and were probably exposed with a camera that attached to the 10" Refractor. They have a plate scale which is consistent with the focal length of the 10" Refractor and we have found a camera/tail piece which is large enough to have held plates of this size. Fifty one (51) of the plates are 4"x7" sized plates and were probably exposed with a wide angle camera that sat piggy-back on the 10" Refractor. We have concluded this because the field of view on the plates are several tens of degrees on a side and several of the 4"x7" plates appear to have been exposed concurrently with 6"x7" plates. The remaining two plates in the collection are odd sizes and appear to be reproductions that were not exposed with the 10" telescope.
I have cataloged 415 total plates in the collection. The plates fall into three categories. 362 are 6"x7" sized plates and were probably exposed with a camera that attached to the 10" Refractor. They have a plate scale which is consistent with the focal length of the 10" Refractor and we have found a camera/tail piece which is large enough to have held plates of this size. Fifty one (51) of the plates are 4"x7" sized plates and were probably exposed with a wide angle camera that sat piggy-back on the 10" Refractor. We have concluded this because the field of view on the plates are several tens of degrees on a side and several of the 4"x7" plates appear to have been exposed concurrently with 6"x7" plates. The remaining two plates in the collection are odd sizes and appear to be reproductions that were not exposed with the 10" telescope.
Epochs in the Collection
Epochs in the Collection
The earliest plate in the collection was exposed on December 18th, 1896. Most of the plates were then exposed between 1897-1900 and 1908-1920 (see figure). The last plate in the collection was exposed on March 2nd, 1946.
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