26 Apr 2024

Oldest telescope in New Zealand discovered

From Afternoons, 1:35 pm on 26 April 2024

Following the discovery of a box marked "old telescope", the Tuhura Otago Museum has become home to New Zealand's oldest telescope, dating back to 1736.

Photo: TŪHURA OTAGO MUSEUM

The telescope is now in the 'Director's Choice' exhibition at the museum having been stashed away for years.

To tell us more about the telescope's re-discovery, Susana Lei'autaua talks to museum director and astronomer Dr Ian Griffin.