large mounted prism
Date: circa 1950
Inventory Number: 2006-1-0012
Classification: Prism
Subject:
Maker: American
User: Harvard College Observatory (founded 1839)
User: George R. Agassiz Station, Harvard (1951 - 1982)
Cultural Region:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
case: 38.5 × 36.5 × 22.5 cm (15 3/16 × 14 3/8 × 8 7/8 in.)
Description:
Large prism mounted in a metallic support that could be fixed to a window or perhaps in front of a telescope. It is stored in a custom-made wooden box.
Signedunsigned
FunctionPrisms are used to create a light spectrum, an artificial rainbow. Wikipedia offers a nice description, with images, of how it works. See the following website.
In this specific case, it could have been used to study the spectrum of stars, including the sun.
In this specific case, it could have been used to study the spectrum of stars, including the sun.
Historical AttributesUsed by Harvard College Observatory.
ProvenanceFrom the Agassiz station, Harvard University (Harvard, Mass.)