Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1888-02-08
WONDERS OF THE Sky.
What a Peep Through the Lick Tele-
scope Revealed.

From the San Francisco Chronicle.
AS The work on the Lick telescope approaches
completion interest increases in astronomical cir
cles as to the wonders which it will reveal with re-
gard to other worlds and the extent to which,
tenenting by its happy situation and extraordi-
nary powers, 1t will excel all other telescopes
Yesterday morning Thos. E. Fraser arrived home
from Mount Hamilton, and as, up to within two
months ago. he was superintendent OF construc-
ton OF the observatory and chose its site for Jas
Lick, 1t was thought that he might very possibly
AFFORD some interesting Information, not only rela-
i've 10 tne progress OF the work, but also OF the
when will the work be ready?, he was asked.
we were In hopes by the end Of February, but
the end OF March before the Observatory Is turned
over TO the regents"
~ suppose you had a peep through the big
''Well, OF course, though not much. because the
weather was bad; however. think we saw sew
which may be looked upon in the light on discover
les The nrst peep had was about noon, when
tne glass was brought TO bear on Venus Being so
near the sun she Is always difficult to see, but
saw her better with five hundred power through
the great objective than ever before at night with
a Pinch glass She looked almost as large as our
own moon does through a 6-inch glass at night
AT times when using higher power we Imagined
we could see markings on the disc, and much Will
be learned OF this interesting planet in fine
weather."
did you observe any other planetser
AS the weather promised 10 be fairer waited
until night and was rewarded for 30 doing AS
soon as Mr.. Clark had finished she Photograph
which ne always takes TO correct the lens BY we
Floyd had before informed me that he thought he
mad seen TWO stars never before observed and Mr.
Clark was also tolerably confident of this on
turning the glass on the trapeZium OF Orion we
could distinctly see one star within the figure
above the lower right-hand star. 1t is about as
faint an object as can be looked at by any glass
but IL was there without a doubt and has never
before been SEEN Outside Of the trapezium anOtaer
liant star was seen TO the Tight OF the upper star
Clark expressed the opinion that this Is also the
discovery OF new star, as It could not have been
separated oy any other glass"
"Sirius, the dog star is such a favorite with
taken a shot at 1T"
wonderful clearness and great nght-gathering
powers OF the 36-inch objective. II was a mag,
l nineeas sgnt; The star was not IKE point Of
scopes In fact the star proved TO be a round disc
as has often been theoretically held to be- IJ Is
companion could be distinctly seen with sO0.
power on the 36-inch glass while it Is doubtful n
me can , DC seen and measured by any other glass in
gettnX closer during the last four years Its orbit
taxes NIFTY years 70 travel, and to me, as an anna
panion Is a small wdBld ike ours. So clear was
our view that even an experienced observer IKE
aIr eoea not conceal his surprise at the wonder
what interested you mostin
~ ven, tne grandest sight OF all to me was the
moon- ~ was brought within $50 miles OF the
earsn' and we could see the craters, cafions ra-
, vines, rocks and valleys with the greatest dis
tlnctness Just as though they were on q Checker
ooaIu Inere was aboluteiy no sign of life
nothing but barren white waste, everything des-
"what power DID you use,p
,-, All sne OBJECTS we looked at we used powers OF
ins ar Nv 70 ~, according TO the clearness OF
powet o. aoOO ana the wonders WIN then Be
watcheo LOT oy the scientific world while shouId
Interested In the results Obtained " W A0'"''
good 2" "a sAo SisSs ID
"Cnquaiinedly so. II Is not only the hest ona
largest In the world but In point OF actual WORK.
mansnlp consoered.that Is, In the light OF me
IN the world The glass itself Is superior. II has
double the capacity OF the washington glass sn6
great Russian telescope" sne