Summary
Photograph of the Orion Nebula, taken by Melbourne Observatory Assistant Astronomer Joseph Turner with the Great Melbourne Telescope, 26 February 1883.
In 1882 astronomers in Britain and America began to successfully use the more sensitive dry plates to photograph nebulae and comets, which had previously not been clearly photographed with wet plates. Astronomers at Melbourne Observatory began experiments using the Great Melbourne Telescope to photograph nebulae in 1882, with mixed results. Assistant Astronomer Joseph Turner got good results taking photos of portions of Orion Nebula with a four minute exposure, but had no success with n Argus Nebula, despite exposures of up to 45 minutes.
This photograph is one of the first successful photos Turner took of the Orion Nebula. His first success was on 11 February 1883, when he took two photos - these were the first photos of nebulae taken in the southern hemisphere.
Description of Content
Orion nebula and associated stars.
Physical Description
Silver gelatin photograph on paper.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Office of Trade Measurement (formerly Weights & Measures Branch), Victoria: Local Government Department, Melbourne Observatory, by 1988
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Photographer
Mr Joseph Turner - Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 Feb 1883
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Place & Date Made
Melbourne Observatory, South Yarra, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 26 Feb 1883
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Format
Photograph
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Classification
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Primary support
97 mm (Width), 140 mm (Height)
This is image size as well - there are no margins in the photograph itself
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Secondary support
108 mm (Width), 164 mm (Height)
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Keywords
Nebulae, Stars, Celestial Bodies, Astronomy, Great Melbourne Telescope, Science, Research, Photography, DesignWeek2022
