The Caledonian. [volume] (St. Johnsbury, Vt.) 1837-1867, 1852-12-04
THE NEW MONSTER TELESCOPE.

THE NEW MONSTER TELESCOPE.
An enterprising gentleman of England, the
Rev. Mr. Craig. has for some time past been
busily engaged in constructing at his own
cost, an immense achromatic tcIescope-bv
far the largest and most powerful in the
world, and from which the most important
discoveries may be Anticipated 4 fate num-
Der OF the London Morning Chronicle de-
votes more than a column to the subject. The
building was commenced about four months
since, and consists of plain central tower
of brick, the walls of which are about l inch
es in thickness, the hci sht Ga feet. and the
diameter ID feet 1t is erected upon a solid
bed of concrete. and weighs 220 tons. This
tower is the very perfection of construction.
so as to prevent the slightcst vibration, and
this can be still further provided against, if
necessary, by loading the different floors, bv
which means the most complete steadiness is
secured. by the side of this tower hangs the
| gigantic telescope, the immense tube of which
measuring 50 feet in length. is shaped some.
thing like cigar. At one end is the eve
piece. at the height of about five feet from
the ground, and at the other the dew-cap. or
covering. the object of which is to prevent
the absorption and condensation of moisture
( which takes place during the night. when the
instrument is most in use. The exterior is
OF bright metal, and the interior painted
black. to absorb the divergent ravs of light.
lhe instrument has 4 focal distance which
varies from &c to 81 feet, and its greatest cir
cumterence is Is feet, the widest portion of
the tube being about "a feet from the Object
glass, and the determination of this point was
the result of repeated experiments made with
great care.
! The instrument has an object glass of two
feet aperture, and has already given evidence
of ITS marvellous powers One of the lenses
is OF flint. and the other of plate or crown
glass The two placed in contact are used
IN combination, and constitute the achromat-
lc glass. The tube when mounted weiphs he
tween three and four tons 1t has been al
ready asccrtaincd that. as measuring instru-
ment or for penetrating space, the powers of
tins new contrivance are very extraordinary.
1t separates minute points of lights distinct
lv that It's qualifications as a discovering tel
escope must he extremely valuable. Ii re-
solves the Milky Way not simply into bcauti-
tul and brilliant star,iu>t. to use the lanauane
of astronomers, hut subdiyidcS this dust" in
10 regular consultations. showing counter
parts Of the Orion. the Great Bear. and OF the
other brilliant calaxieS of our system. adorn-
ed IN addition with the most varied AMI gor-
gcous colors. The lenses are so perfectly a.
'hromatlc that the P Ianet Saturn appears of
mIlk-like whitcneSS; and. as regards this plan-
ct good deal ofScicntific interest has recent
ly been attached to it in consequence of the
distinguished American astronomer. Bond. OF
the Cambridge Observatory, Massachusetts.
having stated he believed he saw third rinr
or belt round the planet Prof: Challis
brought the Northumberland telescope at
Cambridge to bear upon it. but failed in dis
covering it. Lord Roses gigantic telescope
was also employed upon it in vain, and it be-
came MATTER of great interest to the astro-
nomical world to ascertain whether there was
third ring or not, and this question has been
solved by the Craig telescope, the third ring,
of a clear brilliant gray color. having been
distinctly seen. This is owing to the great
quantity of light which the Wandsworth tel
escopc brings to the eve of the observer from
this planet, giving bright appearance to what
in an instrument OF less power, would have
been completely invisible
Some idea of its power may be formed
from the fact that it magnifes the light of the
moon 900 times, and in coarse objects, like
the outlines of the lunar mountains ard the
craters, the whole of these rays NAV be al
lowed to pass at once to the focal point, as
they do not in such objects confuse it in anv
appreciable degree. In the Craig telescope
the moon is most magnificent object. and
perfectly colorless, cnablin. the beholdcr to
trace the outlines of the various mountain
ranges with such vivid distinctncss as to make
US long for the clear weather in order to
bring the whole powers Of this marvellous In
strument to bear upon our satellite. 1t is pos
ItIvely asserted that on favorable evening
If there Was a building or object of the size of
Westminster Abbey in the moon, the whole
of its parts & proportions would be distinctly
revealed. As an illustration of its space pen
etrating powers, and the manner in which it
grasps in the light, it is stated that soon after
1t was erected it was directed to test object
minute speck Of light in one of the constel-
lationS, which is not to be seen at all times by
the most excellent Instruments, though puid-
ed by first rate observers, and in profound
darkness. The Craig telescope at once dis
covered that this test object was not minute
spcck flight, but brilliant double star. As
soon as it is finally adjusted, Mr. Craig propos-
cs to direct the instrument to the planet We
nus, to examine it minutely, in the hope that