New-York daily tribune. [volume] (New-York [N.Y.]) 1842-1866, 1846-04-01
BY GREELEY s. McELRATH.
For The Tribune.
Astronomical ObservntOries.

appear to be greater degree of activity and life
none in which people generally seem 10 'aAe
higher interest or in relation 10 which iheS CIV i-00
more generous disposition--than in the great ana
noble study of the phenomena OF the heavens
Public Obseryatories furnished with the grandest
and most expensive instruments, have been, or are
nov being. erected in all quarters OF the world
and IN addition 10 these, private establishments Of
all sizes from the little Equatorial OF three or four
feet focal length mounted in the open air up to the
grand Refractors of South, and the gigantic and
eouaed Reiectors of the Earl of Rosse are lending
their aid 10 elucdate the remoter aAd more wonder
ul mysteries of the Starry Host-or contributing 10
constantly increasing accuracy in the determine
ton of the movements OF our Planetary Bodies, and
daily-or rather nghtly-adding to the stock OF
facts and ideas by Which alone can we be said 10
approximate the comprehension OF Infinity.
Our own country has NO. been wholly neglected. OF
science so noble in its elevaiing in its in
fuences-so useful in its deductions-its formulas
its everyday practical results. In Washington we
have fine establishment attached 10 the Navy De-
par,ment, and furnished with a number of instru
ments Of the best kind. The meridian Instrument
that is instruments for obtaining time, rating chro
nometers and observing the right ascensions and
destinations Of stars, and ascertaning their exac
position in the heavens in reference TO any given
positions upon the earth, consisting of transit in
strument, mural circle, a telescope in the prime
vertice tcc.are of the largest size and most elabo
rate finish, and fully equal TO the successful
prosecution of that branch of the science TO which
we understand il is the intention of the Observatory
mainly TO devote itself The branch proposed is the
accurate determination of certain data essential 10
the calculations and observations of tie general OBJ
server, and 10 the preparation Of Nautical lima
mac, which it is intended shall be more accurate
than the Greenwich one, upon which our Navy and
vast Commercial Marine is now dependent The
unearned reader vii! hardly be able 10 form any
idea Of the amount OF labor-the exhaustng night
work-,he monotonous and fatguing repetition of
observation upon observation, in order that, by a
general average of hundreds and in some instances
of thousands Of readings of the degrees and subd-
visions Of the instrument ell error may be elimi-
mated and some single point asceriained of the
wearsome and intricate computations 10 reduce
such observations and TO form them into tables for
the use of Astronomers Mariners, Almanac makers,
Chronometer and Watch makers Engineers Sur
veyors, &c. 1t is understood that 10 this work
officers of the Navy will be appointed and that
strong and efficient force will be ever on duty
But nasmuch as the work is cXtra-proiessional, ex
tremey arduous, and requiring degree Of industry
tact and talent that all Naval officers do not possess
it has been proposed that those who undertake the
duty should have, while thus engaged, small In
crease of pay-at least enough TO make up for the
increased xpense Of living al Washington. The
suggestion is good one; and, If adopted, might
make the post of Observer desirable one, and in
Of, ba lI IN
themselves of their opportunities TO obtain thorough
practical acquaintance with the of Instruments
The Corps at present consists OF twelve officers, be-
side the Astronomer-in.C Chief and the work that
they are doing is and will be OF the finest order,
to accuracy and reiableness.
Beside the instruments which are confined TO the
meridian, or 10 the prime vertical-a circle running
through the zenith from East to West, or at right
angles TO the nleridian-there is at Washington
very respectable RefractinS Telescope equatorlaly
mounted, so as to be capable of being directed 10
star in any part of the Heavens, and Of 80 moving,
by means of clock-work, as 10 keep the object con-
stantly in the field of view. The object glass OF this
instrument is nine inches in diameter, and, together
with its tube. eye-glass and mounting, was made
at the great Optical Establishment OF Merz X
MAILER at Munich. The cost, we believe, was
about ,000
At West Point the Government have another
Observatory furnished with small equatorial Re-
fleeing Telescope, and very line German Transit
instrument, and Astronomical Clock. The OBJ
servatory needs additional instruments, and the or
ganization of Corps of Observers, before it can
equal in efficiency its Naval rival at Washington.
Ia Philadelphia, attached 10 the High School, is
| very complete Observatory on a small scale. 1t
contains Transit Circle and Clock, Comet Seeker
and very fine Refracting Telescope of eight feet
focal length and an objectglass about SIX Inches
| if we recoect aright-in diameter.
At ST Johns College there is fine Telescope
AT Yale College there are 4 number OF instru
menis which, under the direction OF Professor
Olmstead, have done very good service. Ii not
perhaps equal 10 original discovery profound In
vestiga,on, they are useful in keeping the run Of
Astronomical phenomena Several other lnsttu-
lions have Instruments of various powers; but It is
TO Cincinnati and Boston that must look for the
two greatest establishments In this country.
The Observatory al Cincinnati owes its existence
to the liberaty of few of the intelligent citizens of
that thriving city, and TO the indomable energy Of
Professor Mitchell the Astronomer 1t consists OF
fine building, in which is mounted one of the largest
Refracting Telescopes in the world. This instru.
nent is seventeen feet in focal length, and has an
object glass one foot In diameter: IL cost $4,000
w thin the short time that ii has been mounted, it
| has enabled the Astronomer, working under the
most disadvantageous circumstances, TO catalogue
over one hundred new double stars,-io ascertain
! that AntareS is double-and 10 discover several OF
those patches of luminous matter called nebutG
i where il is supposed the process of creation IS
actually going on and new worlds are evolving
themselves beneath the hand, and in obedience TO
the laws of an infinite Creator. Unfortunately, this
| Observatory has no instruments for getting the
lime,-an element essential in many Astronomical
observations and calculations 1t has no Transit or
Mural Circle, or Altitude and Azimuth instrument,
or Comet-Seeker, or Astronomical Clock; but ii
cannot be supposed that an Observatory possessing
such magnificent Equatorial Telescope will long
want the minor instruments necessary to render IL
complete
AT Boston they have erected large building,
which will soon be amply supplied with instru-
ments Ii is TO have the largest Refracting Tele-
scope ever yet manufactured. The object.glass-
the most difficult portion of the instrument 10 con-
struc,.-s actually made and is now in Munich
awaiting the completion of the other parts the in
s;rument |, is fifteen inches in diameter, and Is
ground TO focal length OF twenty-three feet. For
many purposes this instrument will probably have
capacities equal 10 the great Reflector of the Earl
of Rose. II is proposed, we understand, 10 de-
vote its powers mainly 10 the interesting question
of Parallox or, in other words, TO ascertain. II
possible the distances of the fixed stars from the
earth.
and now we come TO New York, which, as being
the great Commercial Emporium OF the country, the