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
By this telescope the sixth and seventh satellites of Saturn were
discovered, only one of which is within the reach of the 20 feet
reflector, or even of a 25 feet instrument. The discovery of the
satellites of the planet Uranus, however, was made by the 20 feet
reflector, but only after it had been converted from the Newtonian to
the Herschelian construction--which affords a proof of the superiority
of the latter construction over the former when the same speculum is
used. Never had the heavens before been observed with so extraordinary
an instrument as the forty feet reflector. The nebulosities which
are found among the fixed stars, in various regions of the heavens,
appeared almost all to resolve themselves into an innumerable
multitude of stars; others, hitherto imperceptible, seemed to have
acquired a distinct light. On the entrance of Sirius into the field
of the telescope, the eye was so violently affected, that stars of
less magnitude could not immediately after be perceived; and it was
necessary to wait for 20 minutes before these stars could be observed.
The ring of Saturn had always before ceased to be visible when its
plane was directed towards the earth; but the feeble light which it
reflects in that position was enough for Herschel’s instrument, and the
ring, even then, still remained visible to him.
It has been generally considered that this telescope was capable of
carrying a power of 6000 times; and perhaps for the purpose of an
experiment, and for trying its effect on certain objects, such a power
may have been applied,--in which case the eye-glass must have been
only 2/25 of an inch focal distance, or somewhat less than one twelfth
of an inch. But such a power could not be generally applied, with any
good effect, to the planetary bodies; and I question much whether any
power above 1000 times was ever generally used. For, it is the quantity
of light which the telescope collects, more than the magnifying power,
that enables us to penetrate, with effect, into the distant spaces of
the firmament: and hence, as above stated, the power seldom exceeded
200, which on account of the large diameter of the speculum, would
enable the instrument to penetrate into the distant celestial spaces
perhaps further than if a power of as many thousands of times had been
applied.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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