The weekly intelligencer. [volume] (Lexington, Mo.) 1891-1901, 1896-08-08
DIR. CHENEY'S PLANETARIUM.
1t Is a Great Invention, and Should be
in Every School Room.

An INTELLIGENCER reporter enjoyed a
pleasant interview with the Rev. DIR. j.
M. Cheney while he was here this week.
DIR. Cheney has within the past year in
vented the planetarium, which instru-
ment may perhaps revolutioniZe the
teaching of astronomy. He has just per-
fected the instrument, and when it
becomes known to the scientific world it
will be in every school room In the coun-
try. DR.. Cheney exhibited it to the IN
TELLIGENCER man this week. The first
thing about it that commends itself is its
remarkable simplicity. Any one who
can turn a top can understand it, and any
one who will use it fifteen minutes will
learn more about astronomy than one
could learn out of textbook in a month.
To one not familiar with astronomy,
the stars seem to be very irregular and
complicated in their motions. The astron-
omer, with his knowledge and expensive
apparatus, can keep track of all celestial
bodies, and tell you at any moment just
where any star or planet Is. But hitherto,
one not skilled in astronomy and not
having the necessary apparatus GALL COM
Plicated and expeDsive), could learn but
little of the motions and place Of the in
teresting objects that reveal themselves
to his gaze on a clear night. But all these
difficulties are met by the planetarium.
Its use requires 40 previous knowledge
OF astronomy. Any one who can learn to
wind a clock and set the hands to the
proper time, can just as easily learn to
handle the planetarium, and be able to
tell you at any hour just where any planet
or large star is, in the sky.
1t is a beautiful apparatus-small in
STRENGTHENING about eight ounces, effec-
tive and satisfactory in its work. easily
and quickly adjusted, and remarkably
cheap. With ordinary care it will last a
lifetime.
Among the interesting facts clearly ex-
hibited by it may be mentioned the fol-
lowing:
By simply taking hold of the knob and
turning the hour hand to any hour of the
day or night, it shows you the place in
the sky, of any planet at that hour, SO
that if you look where it points you will
see the planet and recognize it.
In the same manner it enables you to
find and recognize any first magnitude
star.
In the same way 1t locates twenty-iour
of the principal consultations, including
twelve of the zodiak.
1t gives you the place and course of the
sun and moon at any time.
1t enables you to know the time of the
rising and setting of any of the heavenly
bodies in any latitude.
II illustrates the aa0n for tho uoruin0
length of daylight and darkness at diner
emit seasons of the year, and in different
ATTITUDES.
1t shows you how the sun appears to
move at the north pole, and how there are
six months day and six months night.
1t illustrates the harvest moon, and how
and why 1t is that there is a difference in
the interval between two successive
risings of the noon when near full.
II you are somewhat familiar with
astronomy, and have a star map, or cata-
logue OF interesting objects, you have
their d~eclination and right ascension
given, and you a take a common pin
and insert it in the globe at the dsclina-
ton and right ascension of the object,
and thus know exactly where it is at any
hour,
Papers frequently inform you that a
comet is visible. In such cases its right
ascension and ~declination are gwen, and,
as in the case above, you can insert the
pin in the globe, and know precisely
where to look for the strange visitor at
any hour.
1t will give you the time OF day by the
sun, as well az by the sun dial.
1t will give you, approximately, your
latitude.
There are many other interesting facta
which it will illustrate, which will be
suggested by use.