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
On the same principle as that by which a refracting telescope may be
constructed by means of a single lens--as represented fig. 51, (page
234) we may form a telescope by reflection with a single mirror, and
without an eye-piece. Let AB, fig. 72, represent a large concave
speculum, and C its focus--if an eye be placed at D, about 8 or 10
inches within the focal point C, all the objects in the direction of C,
or behind the spectator, will be seen magnified by reflection on the
face of the mirror, and strongly illuminated. The magnifying power, in
this case, will be nearly in the proportion of the focal length of the
mirror to the focal length of the eye for near objects. If for example,
the focal distance of the mirror be 8 feet, and the distance from the
eye at which we see near objects most distinctly, be 8 inches--the
magnifying power will be in the ratio of 8 to 96, or 12 times. I have
a glass mirror of this description, whose focal length is 4 feet 8
inches, and diameter 6 inches, which magnifies distant objects about 7
times, takes in a large field of view, and exhibits objects with great
brilliancy. It presents a very distinct picture of the moon, showing
the different streaks of light and shade upon her surface; and, in some
cases, shows the larger spots which traverse the solar disc. This mode
of viewing objects is extremely easy and pleasant, especially when the
mirror is of a large diameter; and the observer is at first struck and
gratified with the novel aspect in which the objects appear.
Were a concave mirror of this description--whether of glass or of
speculum metal--to be formed to a very long focus, the magnifying
power would be considerable. One of 50 feet focal length, and of a
corresponding diameter, might produce a magnifying power, to certain
eyes, of about 75 times; and, from the quantity of light with which the
object would be seen, its effect would be much greater than the same
power applied to a common telescope. Sir W. Herschel states, that, on
one occasion, by looking with his naked eye on the speculum of his 40
feet Reflector, without the interposition of any lens or mirror, he
perceived distinctly one of the satellites of Saturn, which requires
the application of a considerable power to be seen by an ordinary
telescope. Such an instrument is one of the most simple forms of a
telescope, and would exhibit a brilliant and interesting view of the
moon, or of terrestrial objects.
PRICES OF REFLECTING TELESCOPES.
1. Prices as stated by Messrs. W. and S. Jones, Holborn, London.
£ s.
A 4 feet, 7 inch aperture Gregorian reflector, with the
vertical motions upon a new invented principle, as well as
apparatus to render the tube more steady for observation,
according to the additional apparatus of small speculums,
eye-pieces, micrometers, &c. from 80_l._ to 120 0
Three feet long, mounted on a plain brass stand 23 2
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