The Practical Astronomer: Comprising illustrations of light and colours--practical descriptions of all kinds of telescopes--the use of the equatorial-transit--circular, and other astronomical instruments, a particular account of the Earl of Rosse's large telescopes, and other topics connected with astronomyDick, Thomas
Science
The Practical Astronomer: Comprising illustrations of light and colours--practical descriptions of all kinds of telescopes--the use of the equatorial-transit--circular, and other astronomical instruments, a particular account of the Earl of Rosse's large telescopes, and other topics connected with astronomy
Dick, Thomas
Astronomical instruments; Astronomy; Telescopes
The Rev. Dr. Pearson, Treasurer to the Astronomical Society of London,
is in possession of the telescope formerly alluded to, made by Mr.
Tulley, of twelve feet focal distance and seven inches aperture, which
is said to be a very fine one. The small star which accompanies the
pole star, with a power of a 100, appears through this telescope, as
distinct and steady as one of Jupiter’s satellites. With a single lens
of 6 inches focus, which produced a power of 24 times, according to
the testimony of an observer who noticed it--the small star appeared
as it does in an achromatic of 3 inches aperture, which shows the
great effect of illuminating power in such instruments. Mr. Lawson, a
diligent astronomical observer in Hereford, possesses a most beautiful
achromatic telescope of about 7 inches aperture, and 12 feet focal
distance, which was made by one of the Dollonds, who considered it
as his _chief d’oeuvre_. It is said to bear powers as high as 1100
or 1400; and has been fitted up with mechanism devised by Mr. Lawson
himself, so as to be perfectly easy and manageable to the observer,
and which displays this gentleman’s inventive talent. In several of
his observations with this instrument, he is said to have had a view
of some of the more minute subdivisions of the ring of Saturn. A very
excellent achromatic telescope was fitted up some years ago by my
worthy friend William Bridges, Esq., Blackheath. Its object glass is
5-1/2 inches diameter, and about 5-1/2 feet focal length. It is erected
upon Equatorial machinery, and placed in a circular observatory which
moves round with a slight touch of the hand. The object glass of this
instrument cost about 200 Guineas, the equatorial machinery on which it
is mounted cost 150 Guineas, and the circular observatory in which it
is placed about 100 Guineas; in all 450 Guineas. Its powers vary from
50 to 300 times.[22]
_Achromatic telescopes of a moderate size._
Such telescopes as I have alluded to above, are among the largest which
have yet been made on the achromatic principle; they are, of course,
comparatively rare, and can be afforded only at a very high price. Few
of the _object glasses_ in the telescopes to which I have referred,
would be valued at less than 200 Guineas, independently of the tubes,
eye pieces and other apparatus with which they are fitted up. It is so
difficult to procure large discs of flint glass for optical purposes,
to produce the requisite curves of the different lenses, and to combine
them together with that extreme accuracy which is requisite, that when
a good compound lens of this description is found perfectly achromatic,
the optician must necessarily set a high value upon it; since it may
happen that he may have finished half a dozen before he has got one
that is nearly perfect. The more common sizes of achromatic telescopes
for astronomical purposes, which are regularly sold by the London
opticians, are the following:--
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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