The Royal Observatory Edinburgh Archives

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The Archives of the Royal Observatory, Edinburgh consist of correspondence, and scientific and administrative papers and notebooks of the former Astronomical Institution of Edinburgh (founded in 1811), the Astronomers Royal for Scotland, and the 26th Earl of Crawford. The Archive collection also includes a large amount of photographic material, sketchbooks and diaries of Piazzi Smyth [Second Astronomer Royal from 1846-1888]. The material we hold charts the history of the founding of the observatory and, the people and the work they carried out here.
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One of Piazzi Smyth's sketches, from 1868, showing Dr John Lee, of Hartwell House, Buckingham- shire observing at home, with his transit circle. Piazzi helped design the meridian room where he is seated.









​More information about Piazzi Smyth is available at a dedicated website: www.piazzismyth.org
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Ralph Copeland (Third Astronomer Royal 1889 -1905) with his favourite instrument, the spectroscope attached to the 15 inch telescope.
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Another of Piazzi Smyth's sketches showing zodiacal light at Palermo - drawn on one of his trips to Sicily in 1872.
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Launch of a Skylark rocket in 1961. The first British astronomical observations from space were made with equipment constructed at the ROE.