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Astronomical Interests of Fairfield’s Atkinson Family.
Nelson Science Society and Fairfield House have the pleasure of hosting an informative evening as part of Nelson’s Tuku 21 Whakatū Heritage Month.
Duncan Steel will talk about two remarkable members of the Atkinson family and their astronomical interests. Arthur Atkinson who built Fairfield House, observed the Transit of Venus in 1882 on a 4″ Browning telescope. In 1885, on his new 8″ Cooke Telescope, Arthur observed a total solar eclipse.
The 4″ Browning telescope used to witness the transit will be on display before and during the talk.
Arthur’s great-nephew, Harry Atkinson, had an asteroid named after him and was Chairperson of the European Space Agency
Please register your interest in attending at /www.fairfieldnelson.org.nz/contact/