From P1// Telescope

badly due to surface rust," Poll told Stuff.

The Brashear Telescope was used in the late 1800s. It stands up to nine metres tall, has an 18-inch refracting lens, and is crafted of brass, iron, steel and wood.

In the 1960s, the telescope was gifted to the University of Canterbury by the University of Pennsylvania for installation at Mt John Observatory, but there weren’t enough funds to build a dome suitable to house it, so it was resigned to a life in storage.

Poll, a former Earth & Sky employee and astro photographer, said he’s been working on the restoration about 40 hours per week. Nga¯i Tahu Tourism announced last year it would partner with the astro-tourism company in the multi-million dollar facility.

"We’re privileged to have Dallas Poll restoring each piece of this 124-year-old Victorian telescope - it is an incredibly detailed process that has been fascinating to watch," Nga¯i Tahu Tourism general manager experience operations Emma Gardiner said.

"We’re looking forward to sharing this amazing nine-metretall telescope with manuhiri [visitors] when the astronomy centre opens next year."

In 2016, the University of Canterbury gifted the telescope to the Tomorrow’s Skies Charitable Trust (TSCT) to enable the restoration. Graham Kennedy of TCST said the importance of the project to astronomy was "tremendous.

"Once restored, the Brashear will be the only Victorian telescope in a Gold Standard international Dark Sky Reserve," Graham Kennedy, of the TSCT, said.

"We’re inviting those with an interest in the Brashear and the astronomy community to share in the support of this project to ensure its success." The centrepiece of the headquarters will detail the telescope’s history and astronomy both in New Zealand and worldwide.