The Japanesse 150mm ( 6 inch) Hevelius replica telescope the world largest functional replica with a focal length of 21 meters the scope its huge and takes a lot of work in assembling the entire telescope, objective its a single lens plano convex 6'' in diameter.
Super rare! A unique telescope here in Japan
The cold winter air is the perfect season for celestial fans. The sky is clear and you can see the light of glittering stars. I wonder if some people go to astronomical observation after finding time. Here are some recommended sightseeing spots for such celestial fans.
Koiwai Farm, a famous tourist destination in Iwate Prefecture. It is a classic sightseeing spot with a peaceful atmosphere and a leisurely time. This time, let's pay attention to "Makiba Tenmonkan" in Koiwai Farm Makiba Garden.
Makiba no Tenmonkan is the most scenic spot in the park. The sky seen from there is also beautiful. There aren't many lights around, so you can enjoy the stars in the sky. In addition, a large telescope is installed in the hall, and it is possible to observe the moon craters. That is not all. One of the great things about this Makiba no Tenmonkan is that it has an air telescope.
The air telescope is the ancestor of today's telescopes. When performing astronomical observations using two convex lenses, the lens performance was not so good, so it was necessary to increase the focal length of the lens to observe clearly at high magnification. Adding a tube to a long telescope adds considerable weight, so it seems that an "air telescope" was created in which the tube was eliminated and the lens was exposed to air. This type of telescope seems to have been active until the 18th century.
Makiba no Tenmonkan is working on a restoration project for this air telescope. It is said that the restoration of a large-scale air telescope with a total length of 21 m is rarely seen in the world. It is no exaggeration to say that it is the world's largest air telescope. It is usually dismantled and displayed in the Tenmonkan room.
Observations have been held from August to September every year since 2008, and many people, including students from the Iwate University Astronomy Club, participate. Towers and skeletons, hemp strings to support them, lots of holes with apertures called aperture plates ... You can observe the moon at 200x.
Fantasy spread in the night sky. Not only that, you can witness timeless technology and feel the wisdom of your predecessors. I suppose that only the Makiba Tenmonkan can provide such an experience in Japan.
Written by Shibusawa.