Iron County register. [volume] (Ironton, Iron County, Mo.) 1867-1965, 1885-01-22
LARGE TELESCOPES.

An Account of Some of the Greatest Now
in Use and Others Being Constructed.
In the wide and attractive domain
of astronomy it has ever been found
that:
Truths sublime and sacred science charm,
Creative arts new faculties supply
Mechanic powers give more than giants arm
And piercing optics more than eagles eye;
And teach US to adore the great Designing
Cause.
So that since the time when Calico,
nearly three centuries ago. first directed
the telescope to the examination of the
heavenly bodies, it has been the aim to
perfect this valuable instrument of re-
search. Galileo's telescope was of the
most inferior kind, and we can to some
extent appreciate the difficulties under
which he labored, but the heavens were
presented before him as an unexplored
field, and hence he was enabled to
CLEAN something of its marvels, not
withstanding the inadequate power of
its appliances. The history of the tele-
information as to how opticians have
observers considered insurmountable,
and how a degree of excellence and
greatness of dimensions has been at
last attained with most satisfactory re-
suits. We do not propose to trace the
steps leading to this gratifying issue,
but rather to refer to some of the large
telescopes of the present day, though
admitting that there may be an eIe-
ment of truth in DR.. Kitchiner's re-
mark that '1mmense telescopes are
only about as useful as the enormous
spectacles which are suspended over
the door of opticians!" The great
practical utility of large instruments
has, however, been so clearly demon
strated in recent years in several dis
tinct branches of research, that any
further attempt to disparage their
performances must wholly fail in its
purpose.
The largest telescope extant is Lord
Rosse's giant reflector, at Parsonstown,
Ireland. The tube, which is construct
ed of wood hoped with iron, is fifty
two feet long and averages seven feet
in diameter The diameter of the
metal speculum is six feet and its
weight is nearly four tons. This mon
ster instrument, which is stated to have
cost ESQ. 200, was erected under Lord
ROSES personal superintendent, and
has been devoted with great success to
the observation of nebule. Occasion
ally its powers have also been favora-
bly, utilized upon other objects such as
the minute satellites of Mars Sir Will
liam Herschel's largest telescope was a
reflector forty feet long and speculum
of forty-nine and half inches Diane
ter, but this has long ceased to exist.
The same may be said of Mr.. Lasselfs
reflector of four feet diameter, which
also accomplished work of the utmost
valne in its day. In England the
largest telescopes are Mr.. Newall's re-
tractor of twenty-five inches aperture,
mounted at Gateshead, and Mr.. Com
mons uhirty-seyen inch reflector at
Ealing. London. Among the largest
instruments possessed by other coun-
tries we may mention the reflector at |
Melbourne of forty-eight inches diane
ter, and the one at Paris of forty-seven |
inches. In America there are some |
very large and efficient refractors made |
by the celebrated Alvan Clark. AT /
Princeton there is a twenty-three inch,
at the Washington Naval Observatory
q twenty-six inch, and there is another
twenty-six inch in private hands. The
telescope cost f9, 900.
Those who have an eye to the future of
and hope for the rapid de-
velopment of its progress will learn
with satisfaction that no less than four !