[David Harris memorial lecture] Doug Bickley – Parsons Leviathan

The Leviathan of Parsonstown is the unofficial name of the Rosse six-foot telescope. This is
a historic reflecting telescope of 72 in (1.8 m) aperture, which was the largest telescope in
the world from 1845 until the construction of the 100-inch (2.5 m) Hooker Telescope in
1917. The Rosse six-foot telescope was built by William Parsons, 3rd Earl of Rosse on his
estate, Birr Castle, at Parsonstown (now Birr in County Offaly, Ireland).