Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1890-09-01
THE LARGEST TELESCOPE.
VI. Camille F1ammarion on the New
Possibilities of Astronomy.
raids Enrnnean Edition.

VI. Camille F1ammarfon on the New
Possibilities of Astronomy.
From the ny. HeraId's European Edition.
The progress of astronomy depends on two
things-instruments and men who use them.
Calico created the astronomy of observation
by constructing his telescope, which he pointed
toward the heavens and by letting the world
know what he had discovered through it. But
for Calico and his investigating, inquiring,
independent mind the telescope invented be-
fore his time would have done nothing toward
the progress Of the science. But, on the other
hand. without that invention Calico would
have discovered neither the mountains in the
moon nor its phases, nor the spots on the sun.
nor the stars in the milky way, nor
any .other Of the great discoveries for
which the wor'i is indebted to him.
In one word, he would not have
transformed the science of astronomy.
According to the value of the man SO Is the
value of the instrument But il men capable
of using instruments are necessary, instru-
ments are also necessary. Sir William Her
schel. Schroeder, Fraunhofer, Arago, Lassel,
Dawes Lord Ross. Warren, De La Rue, Secchi,
Darlington. Higgins, Hall. Burnham, Jansen,
Schiaparelh. Pickering and their rivals in as
Economical observations only made their bril-
liant discoveries because they had at their dis
posal Instruments of greater perfection than
those used by their predecessors We are Just
now trayersing great epoch in the history OF
science. After remaining stationary during
more than half a century, the science and the
art OF optics are ut present making great and
majestic strides forward
THREE GREAT TELESCOPES
have recently been successfully constructed,
the like of which would have seemed fantas-
tic dream TO our predecessors. All three Of
them we're constructed in 1856. One at the
observatory of Nice has free opening of "A
centimeters and a length of Is meters; the
second at the observatory of Boukoua, Russia,
has the same diameter, but somewhat
smaller opening. which, by reason OF the
character of the mounting, only measures 20
centimeters in a little shorter focal distance
and in length Is meters; third at the OBJ
servatory OF Mount Hamilton. California, has
for its objective a lens with an opening of 81
centimeters and focal distance and length of
10 meters. These magnificent instruments
we see. from the very fact of their successful
construction, have proved that it suffices to be
bold in order to succeed and have demonstrated
that we should not be satisfied with them: that
1t Is possible to go even further. Is it rot
natural ambition for an astronomer to pene-
trate further and further into the depths of
the infinite and above all else to determine the
nature of other worlds-to lift up corner of
the veil that hides from Us the immense mys-
terry OF creation!
STILL GRASDER TELESCOPE.
II is hardly four years since the instruments
Of which We have spoken were completed, and
already opticians are at work on lens greater
than all three of these lenses, which will have
a diameter OF more than a meter. The lens of
the observatory of Mount Hamilton measures
30 inches. or 81 centimeters, of free aperture.
Now lens OF 40 inches, or l meter diameter,
ID desired and is being constructed. This OBJ
jective is composed. as every one knows of
two lenses, one of flint, the other of crown
glass, juxtapOsed, mutually completing each
other by their optic properties, producing as
perfect achromatism is possible.
This objective lens is being made for the
University of California and for the observatory
of Mount Wilson. not far from Los Angeles
where Mr. Pickering has recently obtained
some excellent photographs Of the moon,
Saturn and Mars. On one of these latter a
heavy fall of snow is perceived, which in twenty
four hours covered, on the planet Mars, ex-
tent OF surface as vast as the area of the United
States. 1t is easy to understand that men of
intelligence and feeling, who understand the
true grandeur of humanity, should take deep
Interest in such progress as this. We have the
right to be impatient and feel keenly. Astron-
omers are in the position of Moses when he
was within sight of the promised land.
POSSIBILITIES OF OBSERVATION
For example, we have Mars before our eyes,
All the observations made thus far lead us to
think that this planet must be inhabited as is
our own, and perhaps even better inhabited
We see in it continents. saes, coasts. capes
bays, rivers, waters, SHOWS and clouds We
witness all the effects produced by the seasons
We see distinctly rectilineal lines extending
from seas to seas and putting them in commu-
nicatiOn. which seem to be canals IL has even
been thought tht. bril'ilrt points. geometric-
ally arranged, have been observed. which nav
be intended az signals fr I'm tina. planet to ours
How, then, is 1t possible, no. to wish for COM
piete conquest and TO attain at last a solution
of the enigma?
Well. now, If that objective lens Of forty
inches Is cast and successfully completed a new
and gigantic stride forward can be made 1t
Is now no longer anything more than a question
OF money TO construct an equatorial! telescope
with dlamete: of on9 meter and fifty cent?
meters and lie Igth Of twenty-five meters. ma
neuvered III cupola larger than the dome of
the Paris Pantheon, and with a magnifying
power of four or even five thousand fold
10 what unexpected discoveries would this
supreme effort of Your great nineteenth century
lead! This IS question which it is impossible to
answer. but We have the right to dwell on the
word unexpected" IL must not be forgotten
that 1t was when searching for the limits of the
colors In the solar spectrum that Fraunhofer
discovered spectral analysis. and that il was
while seeking the paralla1 of the stars that Sir
William Herschel discovered the orbits of double
stars, and 1t was when seeking for Asia that
Christopher Columbus discovered America
In any event, such telescope will enable US
to zee for the first time the seventeenth mapni-
tude stars, which mus. be scattered over the
depth OF heaven in = cape: OF SIS, OCo 600 stars
while the moon will be brJr ,ht SO to speak
within touching distan,s