Royal Observatory Telescope acquired by the National Museum of Scotland
A 1930 Schmidt Telescope was craned out of the West Tower Dome of the Royal Observatory Edinburgh this week and will become a key exhibit in the new Earth and Space gallery at the re-developed National Museum of Scotland on Chambers Street which re-opens in Summer 2011. It was only possible to remove the telescope, which has not been used since the 1970s, due to the refurbishment to the copper of the domes which is currently underway. The telescope, which weighed more than 2.6 tonnes, could only be removed through the roof so this was a unique opportunity for the National Museums Scotland to acquire this piece of Scottish astronomical heritage.
