By Sir Robert Barker, Knt. F.R.S.; in a letter to Sir John Pringle, Bart. P.R.S
Published in Philosophical Transactions, Royal Society, London - 1 January 1777
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Benares Observatory - 18th century
Historical artwork of colonial soldiers, merchants and locals at the astronomical site at Benares (now known as Varanasi) in India. This is one of five similar astronomical sites (all called Jantar Mantar) that were constructed in India between 1724 and 1734 for Maharaja Jai Singh II. The site consists of stone astronomical instruments (yantras), constructed to allow observation of celestial objects such as planets and to predict their movements, and to measure local time. A report on this astronomical site, titled 'An account of the Bramins Observatory at Benares' was read to the Royal Society by Sir Robert Barker in 1777.
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