Gifford Refracting Telescope Observatory

In New Zealand is a popular refracting telescope observatory named the Gifford Observatory. The Gifford observatory can be specifically found on Mount Victoria, in Wellington.

The refracting telescope observatory, which has become one of Wellington’s great pride when it comes to great contributions to the advancement and promotion of the science of astronomy and stargazing, was founded in 1912 by Charles Gifford who is a scientist, astronomer and college mathematics professor.

The astronomical telescope centerpiece of the observatory is the 130 mm Zeiss refracting telescope. Together with the scope were excellent astronomical instruments such as a photograph developing instrument, a spectroscope, and an astronomical camera or an astrograph.

The refractor is as popular as the Gifford observatory’s founder as both pictures of the Charles Gifford and the refractor are hanging on the observatory building’s wall.

Unfortunately, during the 1970’s the Gifford astronomical facility lost its former excellent condition and begun to deteriorate until it became not fit to operate.

In recent years however, after some time of undergoing renovation and restoration, the Gifford refracting telescope observatory finally becomes fully operational today and are being used mostly for the students of Wellington for group study sessions, as well as the local astronomical societies.