Public ledger. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1865-1893, 1880-11-11
STAR GAZING.
A Few Peeps AlOft Through an
Eight Foot Telescope.

The telescope exhibitor enjoyed a
liberal audience at the corner of Main
and Madison streets last night
He took in ever so many stray
dimes, and ever so many shy-looking
people fingered close to his instrument,
wore a wishful aspect and wanted to
take peep but we're ashamed for fear
Of being seen by somebody. One
smart little darky called the thing a
stove-pipe on a step-ladder; another
said it was a big pOp-gun; still another
was heard to remark thatit was a can
non to shoot something in the eye of
the man in the moon. 1t might have
been all or any of these, but it wasn't.
1t is merely telescope through
which to look at the planets.
This particular telescope is almost
eight feet long, with lens six inches
in diameter, and was made in Berlin,
Prussia, some five years ago at cost
Of about $500. 1t is managed and
owned BY native Prussian, now re-
siding at Rockford, Illinois, named T.
L. Radecke, lie isaman Of scientific
attainmeuts aud can tell wondrous
things about the skies and the objects
sailing aloft. His telescope is
not the same we have seen
for thirty years past on its annual he
gira like wild geese towards the
tropics. Itmagni6es the moon, Jupi-
ter or Saturn 800 times their ordinary
size, and the trio, with their numer-
Gus satellites, may be seen for the
small sum Of ten cents, with the pro-
fessorS remarks for lagniappe or
thrown in gratis. There are telescopes
with lens % inches in diameter
capable Of magniiying objects in the
skies 2500 times their ordinary size.
This class of telescopes are worth a
fortune, their value running up into
many thousands Of dollars The telo
scope known as Lord Rosse's,' in
Europe, is one of the largest, truest
and best in existence, but there are
Others which some claim are fully equal
in size, magnifying power and accu-
racy. To make lens for such tele-
scope is very delicate operation, the
proper thickness, form and convgxity
requiring the best skilled workman OF
the present age often weeks and
months to make, only to be thrown
away perhaps, for not one in a thou
sand of those melted into shape art
worth anything when they come to be
used
The picture over head last night of.
tered more than ordinay brilliant
spectacle. In fact, to use the profes'
sor slanguage, "the celestial canvass il
very fascinating tonight. The SKY IL
alive with clustering consultations
this crisp November evening, an(
everybody should feel inspired. Vol
may look among the radiant stars anC
sec three for ten cents Royal Jupi
ter hangs like a torch up there, Will
four moons near it, not visible to tn,
, naked eye. 1t is near the noon to
night and presents lovely spectacle
t worthy of being gazed at for hours
5 Just now it travels at the rate 0
thirty thousand miles an hour, and i
o this month, of great interest to astro
] nomerS. ;"
= Saturn may be sees little 70 tn
E eastward to night. Its golden aloV
1 is 10 bright and its tints so lovely tha
t the Vmost gorgeous painting seem
: muddy in comparison. The COLDER
4 rings with their great belts Of Ngh
: are to be seen in all their spleudol
a though it cannot be diseerned wit
r the same distinctivenoss as is the cas-
# when the moon don't shine. Satur
: seems more liminutive than Jupiter
e but does not surpass him in lovli
y ness. lie IS travelling rapidly toward
IS the sun, and four years hence will b
100 millions Of miles nearer that groa
!, orb than when he is iurthest of, Hi
o rings Increase or widen their apparer
J. distance as he tFayels, and he, wit
n his rings, are fine subjects 10 stud
g lust now. lie looks like a pricelei
y ieyel georgcously set, and it is wort
y a days journsy to see him as he look
Is tonight. Both Jupiter Qnd Satur
/ arc now called evening stars, aad s.
i between rbrce and four in the morn
IS ing.
d Tho crowning spectacle tc.nigh
d however, is the moon. You eau Sc
Il the mountains of Newton on the cde
y Of its crescent, which do not sho
y when the moon is full. Thoy loo
, like chains Of richly frosted jewels au
Nthe spectacle is too grand to describe
The man of science said much mol
tba,. Is Sore written He talked el,
omont, Nof charming Venus, shown
n tbo 50 VthgOstern skies also swif
! winged Mu'reury in the samo qUartor
! and Noptunc> not visible to the make
: eye; also warl'ke Mars in thesane &