Abstract
William Herschel made reflecting telescopes for sale throughout Europe. The second-largest was a 20-ft with a 12-in mirror commissioned by Catherine the Great of Russia for the astronomers of the St Petersburg Academy. The Academy unfortunately opted to have the mounting made locally (in which case the price was halved), but this proved beyond them. They therefore asked Herschel to supply the complete instrument. This he did but only after many delays, and as a result of turmoil both within the Academy and in the nation as a whole, the reflector was never put to use.
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