Between 1806 and 1808, Deerfield Academy purchased instruments for astronomical use made by William Jones of London, including a 2 ½ foot refracting telescope; planetarium with tellurian and lunarium; sextant; and theodolite. This telescope is similar to the one owned by Deerfield Academy and used by Edward Hitchcock to follow the 1811 comet. He published his many astronomical observations in his Country Almanack, 1813-1817.