Details

This mirror cell and Calver mirror (named after its maker George Calver) were made in the 1870s. The mirror was originally coated in silver, then later with more durable aluminium to preserve its reflective quality. The cell held and supported the mirror, ensuring its correct alignment and stability. It could provide 500x magnification of the night sky.

This was part of the large reflecting telescope was situated inside Penylan Observatory and was open for public use from 1906 – 1979.

The observatory was built in Cyncoed Gardens, 200 feet above sea level to provide clear views of the night sky, above the smog of industrial Cardiff.

In 1979 the observatory was demolished. These pieces were rescued by members of the Cardiff Astronomical Society, when the rest of the telescope was melted down for scrap. The Society donated them to the Museum of Cardiff in 2008, soon after the museum started collecting.