Sydney • Observatory
Sydney Observatory (1858) was an important centre for astronomy, timekeeping, and meteorology. It played a prominent role in the international observations of the 1874 Transit of Venus, which contributed to a more accurate determination of the distance between Earth and the Sun.
Schröder Refractor (1874) Built by Hugo Schröder in Hamburg, this 29 cm refracting telescope was installed at Sydney Observatory in 1874. Originally acquired for observations of the 1874 Transit of Venus, it remains the oldest telescope in Australia still regularly used for public observing sessions.
Brass drive mechanism of the Schröder telescope at Sydney Observatory, with hand crank, gear wheel and dial.
The transit instrument.
Fort Denison, where the time ball is located, and the Observatory are on the same site.