Melbourne Observatory is located in (Kings Domain), the King's Park on the south bank of the (Yarra River) River. Founded in 1862, Melbourne Observatory is a scientific research institute in Melbourne, the fast-growing capital of Victoria, Australia. The observatory, supported by the Victorian government, uses a medium-star instrument for general astronomical research. Its mission is to maintain the precise time of the colony by observing. Shortly after its inception, a 48-inch (1200 mm) telescope was installed at the Observatory for astronomical research, for some time, the world's largest full-image telescope. The instrument is also known as the Big Melbourne Telescope. In 1874, the observatory became a participant in the global Mercury transit program, looking at more precise measurements of the distance from the earth to the sun. In the late 1880s, the observatory used novel photography techniques to participate in the international "Carte du Ciel" project for star mapping, in which the southernmost observatory, Melbourne Observatory, was assigned to observe the sky from 65 degrees south to the south pole.