Juniata sentinel and Republican. [volume] (Mifflintown, Juniata County, Pa.) 1873-1955, 1893-06-28
iuvenile as.roaeme~ taught himself by

| juvenile as.roaeme~ taught himself br
its aid.
1 think the use of his telescope which
| interested him most is that indicated by
the title at the head of this paper.
1t SO happened that, at the close of
the year 1891, the sun was in a highly
perturbed condition, and an unusual
number of spots were visible on its
surface. Some of these spots were of
very large dimensions. They are not
visible to the unsided eye, but it re-
quires very little optical aid to render
them perceptible with the telescope.
Onr young astronomer was desirous
! of seeing what his telescope couid
show on the snn; but as he had often
employed lens as a burning glass,
he had learned enough to know that
he couli not safely put his eye to the
tube of his telescope when 1t was dl.
rected to the great lumInary.
! He had been reading my little book
called "Starland," in which | have
endeavored to describe in as simple a
manner as I cou;d the principal facts
with respect to the heavenly bodies.
| He had seen IN "Starland' a picture
showing the way in which the sun can
/ be safely observed.
A sheet of paper is held in front OF
the eye and of the instrument, and by
altering the focus of the telescope a
clearly defined image OF the sun can
be thrown on the paper. This image
is not too bright to look at, and a very
pleasing view of the solar surface can
be thus obtained. If there happen to
be any spots on the sun at the time,
they will be apparent as dark marks on
the brilliant white circle.
g L do not suppose the sun was ever
before examined with so quaint an
apparatus as it was on that day OF
November when the little boy adjusted
his tube ofss brown paper. and held a
white card to receive the picture.
Great was his delight to see not only
the image of the sun, but an unmis.
taxable black spot.
He has fairly good notion Of how
to use his pencil, and so he forthwith
drew a little sketch showing the posi-
ton OF the spot, and then taking his
diagram to a mature friend who had
the use of a powerful telescope, he
asked whether he was not right.
To the little fellows intense pleasure
the great instrument when turned on
the sun verified the existence of the
spot. He was allowed to complete his
sketch with the help of the large tcle-
scope, which showed the way in which b
the spot was shaded.
8 Thus you see how this little boy, ten
years old, not only discovered a sun
spot, but did 50 with a telescope that
was fashioned by his own hands
, Of course little instrument so con-
structed is wanting in all optical refine
ment. The stars as shown by it seem
to be flashing with bright colors which
really they do not possess, and they are
decorated with rays and tails that have
no natural existence. L think, however,
you will agree that this little instru,
ment has had its use.
/ 1t has Taught the little owner more
about lenses and the principles on
] which telescopes are constructed, than
q lie would have learned if he had been
presented with costly instrument
from the optician. If he ever becomes
an astronomer, doubt if any further
discovery will afford him more sincere
pleasure than be had the day he dis.
covered the sun-spot with his home
made telescope.
Youths TIO m I)HuiOu