The changing role of the 'Catts Telescope': the life and times of a nineteenth century 20-inch Grubb reflector

Abstract

An historic 20-in (50.8-cm) Grubb reflector originally owned by the London amateur astronomer, Henry Ellis, was transferred to Australia in 1928. After passing through a number of amateur owners the Catts Telescope - as it became known locally - was acquired by Mount Stromlo Observatory in 1952, and was then used for astrophysical research and for site-testing. In the mid-1960s the telescope was transferred to the University of Western Australia and was installed at Perth Observatory, but with other demands on the use of the dome it was removed in 1999 and placed in storage, thus ending a century of service to astronomy in England and Australia.