Thomas King (astronomer)

King was born in Glasgow, Scotland and came to Auckland with his parents as an infant.

[1] Thomas King took over the charge of the Carter Observatory in 1887 from the Reverend Arthur Stock, vicar of St Peters (former astronomer in charge of the Wellington time-ball station on Lambton House Quay).

[2] The Thomas King Observatory (Māori: Ataira Te Ao Nui) in Wellington, near the Carter Observatory, is now in constant use following the restoration of it and its telescope.

In May 2001 Gordon Hudson began the refurbishment of the 5 inch Grubb Telescope housed in the Thomas King Observatory.

This telescope was made in 1882 by Grubb in Dublin and over its 120 years it is in remarkably good condition.

Thomas King Observatory at Carter – National Observatory of New Zealand
Thomas King Observatory at Carter – National Observatory of New Zealand
Thomas King Observatory at Carter – National Observatory of New Zealand
Saturn image taken at the Thomas King Observatory February 2006