A reflecting telescope for gazing at the pre-war starry Osaka night

Reflecting telescope manufactured by Nishimura Mfg. Co., Ltd.

This is a reflecting telescope with a diameter of 15 centimeters that was used by an amateur astronomer in Osaka in the 1920s. The primary mirror was manufactured by Kaname Nakamura, who was employed at the Kwasan Observatory owned by Kyoto Imperial University. At the time, activity by amateur astronomers had begun to quicken in Japan, and this model could be regarded as an early one for observation of heavenly bodies by individuals. The Osaka Electric Science Museum, which opened in 1937, had close ties of cooperation with the Oriental Astronomical Association, whose membership consisted of amateur astronomers, and the two groups co-hosted meetings for astronomical observation and exhibitions.