Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-06-28
How a Little Boy Discovered
a Sun-SpOt.
BY SIR ROBERT BALL, ASTRONOMER ROYAL
OF IRELAND.

i would Ike TO tell Sucn q one THAI Ne
can teach himself great deal that Is
very interesting about the stars with
out any telescope at all.
de can, for instance, begin by lind
in out the Pole star, and learn the
names ofthe different consultations, and
also those of the principal bright stars
which adorn them. To an intelligent
youth this is a very interesting task,
aud as the seasons change the ever
varying aspects of the heavens will af-
ford him endless occupation.
When the consultations have been
learned, the astronomer, old or young,
will find that they gladden. his view as,
each successive year, he comes to rec
ognize them in their familiar places.
Then, too, the planets offer much
useful study to the astronomer, even
if he has no telescope. He can look
out for the coming of Jupiter and
Mars; lie can watch their strange move
ments; be can follow with great interest
the growing of Venus as the evening
star, and shortly recognize the same
body again as a morning star.
But l would nevertheless encourage
the beginner to endeavor by every
worthy means in his power, to procure
q telescope, so that, while he must not
neglect to make the simple observations
with his unaided eye, he may also be
enabled to learn something of the more
interesting features presented by the
wonderful orbs of heaven.
To illustrate how This may be done
shall tell how a bright little boy, not
now more than ten years old, got over
the difficulty, and actually made tele-
scope for himself which he could use
with good effect for observing either in
heavens or on the earth.
At first sight you might think this
impossible. You have seen the smart
looking telescopes, with cir bright
brass tubes and their beautiful work
manship, in the shops of the opticians,
and you may think it well nigh impos-
sible that child could produce piece
of apparatus for which so much
mechanical skill was required.
II must, however, be observed that
the really essential parts of telescope
are comparatively few and quite simple,
unless optical perfection is looked for.
The necessary portions of the lnstru-
ment are a tube furnished with glass
lens at one end, and another smaller
glass lens at the other.
The little boy to whom l refer had
often seen good telescopes, and no
doubt he thought 1t would be very nice
to have telescope all for himself.
The first thing to be done was to get
the larger glass lens which was to form
which is called the object glass.
No doubt for good telescope this
should be made of two lenses of two
Iz 1Fo o,lo f,,lI -
shaped and put together; but this was
beyond the boys capacity. he
knew nothing about what IS called
schromatlsm. He managed, however,
to possess himself of one Uf the lenses
out of an old magic lantern; at least,
this Is what he used in one of his first
attempts; but afterwsrd some one gave
him q rather larger lens, like one of
those which, when put IN little frame
and furnished with a handle, is used
for magnifying photographs.
The tube for this very primi i've in
strument was made out of brown paper,
which, when covered with paste, was
rolled round tin case that happened
to be about the right size. 1t was dried
before the fire, and thea the lens was
fitted into the end. Ihus one part of
the home made telescope, and that by
far the most important part, was pro-
vided
Next he hal to procure the eye
piece for the other end. This is a
comparatively simple matter. All that
is absolutely wanted is u small lens
like one of those often carried in the
pocket to be used as maguifying
glasses.
believe the Ii tie bows first ins:ru-
ment was fitted with one OF the lenses
taken from broken pair of spectacles
given to him by an old lady. This
was fastened into a small tube made
of paper in the way that 1 have al
ready describe I.
To adjust the small tube to the end
OF the large one, with she help of
cardboard ami paste, WAS not "A matter
of much difficulty. 1t WAS ecessary
to arrange it so that the tube could he
drawn in and out for the purpose OF
focusing
Tins the telescope was complete.
Then came the question of the stand
by which it was to I've supported. This
was provided by the all of a little
primitive carpentry. However, | do
not think the stand was quite so sue
cessful as the telescope proved to be.
1t seemed to be discarded soon, and
when L have seen the telescope 1t has
generally been stuck between the rails
OF cane chair. 1t could be directed
at any height and placed in any posi-
tion, and with this very unusual style
OF mounting, the advantages of the
yielding paper tube we're obvious.
1t enabled the telescope to be pointed
Just where it was wanted.
Great was the delight of my little
friend when he had telescope all his
own and made by himself; and many
AL hour has he spent amusing himself
with it.
OF course L need hardly say that
such contrivGnce has no pretensious
to he an instrument for accurate OBJ
servatIons. Still, it is a veritable tele-
sc pc. for does not the meaning of this
word sionifv an applIanc, for LOOKING
at things which are fur of?
1t is the property of a telescope t.
reduce the apparent distance, and
show the objects as If they we're nearer
at hand. This the little brown paper
with such apologies for lenses, the dis
tapt object is not defined perfectly.
bnt, nevertheless, it can be seen well
enough for many purposes.
One of its most frequent employ
ments in the hands of its young pos
SCISSOR Is to help him to obs erve the
signal posts on distant line OF rail
way. These signals are too far to be
ylslble to the naked eye, but they can
he seen qnite well with the rude little
telescope. My young friend often
fiuds much entertainment in STUDYING
the progress of the trains as indicated
hv the moving of the signals, viewed
telescorIcally.
Then, too. at night, the cane chair is
hr"ught to the window, aud tho sands
OF stars invisible to the unaided eve
oan be seen with the telescope, not
wlthstandIng its imperfections. Many
u little lesson In astronomy has the