Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-05-23
A SIG TIE ES c o Pc
Made in This City for the Observatory Of
the Denver University
With the Exception of the Lick In
strument, the Largest West of
the Allegheny Mountains.

Prof. Herbert A. Howe, the astronomer
of the Chamberlain observatory. at the
University of Denver, is now in Washing
ton, experimenting the shipment to that
institution Of big telescope. The instru-
Hent was constructed here and persons
who have passed recently along I'd
street southwest just below the point
where 1t loses itself in Maryland avenue
have seen Its huge cylindrical form sus-
pended. like Mahomet's coffin, between
heaven and earth, In the side yard of a.
modest two-story double brick building
and wondered what 1t was. For several
months Mr.. George N. Saegmuller, the
proprietor Of the establishment, and the
scientific workers in his employ have been
engaged In the construction of this tele-
scope, which Is considered one of the most
complete In existence. Prof. Howe showed
a pardonabIe pride when talking to a Star
reporter Of his pet that Is to be.
This Is one of the finest telescopes that
has ever been manufactured" said he, land
with the exception of the Lick observatory
instrument 1t will be the largest west of
the Allegheny mountains until the great
Yerkes telescope IT, be erected at Chicago
Is finished. The lenses for the instrument
before you were made by Alvin Clark of
and half in diameter, and when placed
In position will give an aperture of lit
tie over twenty inches. The telescope itself
is twenty-five feet lorg, and is made of
steel tubing, which is only one-sixteenth
or an inch thick at the eye end. 1t has
been designed for visual. Photographic and
spectroscoplc work, and its mechanism is
simply short of wonderful"
The professor and Mr.. Saegmuller ex-
planned the ciockwork and the various in
genious appliances by which the great tube
will be as easily handled as the reporter
could handle his lead pencil, and indicated
their various objects. One great improve
ment which this instrument has over others
Is dial of intricate workmanship but SIM
pie action. Heretofore, in order to find a
star or planet which 1t was desired to ex-
anime the observer would take his position
at the eyepiece of the telescope and then
direct an assistant below to turn the in
strument until the star came within the
field Of the lens. With the dial mentioned.
however. 1t will be possible to turn the
telescope so as to cover any star that may
be desired by taking the nautical almanac
ana making the points on the dial agree
with the figures of the inclination of the
star which the almanac contains.
In other words. the telescope may be
pointed at any object in the heav ens In less
than a minute, and the observer may then
&c up and take his seat and pursue his in
vestigations without delay. The instrument
which MIR. Saegmuller has completed cost
$1,000, and the lenses $1,000. OF course,
there are a number of delicate instruments
which Will accompany the greater one, and
among them Is the micrometer, an instru-
ment that Is used for measuring all celestial
distances. The marvellous delicacy of this
machine may be imagined when it is
known that it will measure the fifty-thou-
sandth part of an inch. The entire weight
OF the telescope will be. including its NOV
ing parts at the base. about Is 900 pounds,
or less than half as much as any similar
instrument of its size now in USE Prof.
Howe is hopeful of achieving excellent re-
suits with his prize.
The atmosphere of Colorado is particu-
larry good for telescope work" he re-
marked, and the base of this instrument,
when IT Is placed in position, will be Just
5.1Oo feet above the level of the sea. The
observatory Is about a mile and a half
southeast of Denver, and during the sum-
mer our winds are almost invariably from
that quarter, and will thus blow the smoke
OF the city In a direction opposite to u.s.
In Photographic work, particularly, we
should be able to accomplish our share to-
ward the advancement Of that branch of
astronomical research"
Prof. Howe will carry the lenses which
are packed up in two square leather boxes,
out west with him in a Pullman car They
are too precious to be intrusted to an ex-
press company, because any rough usage
would smash them into smithereens.
nine-inch equatorial telescope is being
made by Mr.. Saegmuler for one of the big
German observatories.