Template:FP-Leviathan of Parsonstown

The Leviathan of Parsonstown, County Offaly

Leviathan of Parsonstown The Leviathan of Parsonstown is the unofficial name of the vast Rosse Six-Foot Telescope built in 1845 on the estate of the Earl of Rosse in Parsonstown (now known as Birr) in County Offaly. A reflecting telescope, the Leviathan has an aperture of 72 inches – six feet – and was the largest telescope in the world from 1845 until the construction of the 100-inch Hooker Telescope in 1917. It was built by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse, but was partially dismantled on his death. In the 1990s interest in the Leviathan of Parsonstown was revived, and it was rebuilt from early 1996 to early 1997. The new mirror was installed in 1999. (Read more)