New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-10-11
ANOTHER BIG TELESCOPE.
MR.. LOwELL'S TWENTY FOUR-INCH
GLASS.
a NEW INSTRUMENT MADE EXPRESSLY FOR
THE STUDY or MARs-TESTED IN ARR
IONA. AND NOW GOING tt

IONA. AND NOW GOING TO MEXICo
one Of the most interesting Astronomical enter
prises Of tho last few years the establishment
OF an observatory for the especial purpose study
ing the planet Mars during the latter half of 1894.
by .Perciva Lowell Of Boston, With a glass of
eighteen inches aperture made by Brashear. and
with tho assistance of two trained astronomers.
Professor W. ". Pickering and a. f. Douglass
Mr.. Lowell conducted for six months a remark
able series Of observations at Flagstaff. Ariz
The site on which the telescope erected had
been selected. not with u view to advertising the
donors munifcence. but with exclusive reference
to those atmospheric conditions OF elevation and
cloudcssncss whi'h are most favorable to good as
Economical observations. The Lowell telescope of
1884, stood at an altitude OF $50 in region famous
FOR the purity and dryncss OF the air.
For the work OF the coming winter Mr. Lowell
has secured q and larger telescope, and also a
now site. The eishtcen-nch glass has been dis
posed of 10 the University of Pennsylvania. The
Clarks made its successor. 1t erected tempo
rarv last July In the old observatory at Flagstaff.
where Il has been rendering excellent service in
other work than the scrutiny Of Mars but has also
been turned the rudy planet at times But the
next opposition does not occur until December.
and yet Mars has not been near enough TO show
much except his larger features. At present his
parent growth has just brought him 10 the size
where valuable observations begin to be possible.
Z.
before putting his new telescope In the place 1t Is
10 occupy NJ opposition. Tho selection OF a site for
the campaign Of se6-s1 has been made after great
deal OF geographical and meteorological research.
\ mountain within three or four miles OF the city
Of Mexico the hill OF Guadalupe, has Hnal!y been
selected I; announced some time ago that tine
transfer would bee effected early IN the current
month
Tho uiigrctlon 20 Mexico Is dictated not by con-
sderations OF altitude bat by considerations OF c-
mate The hill OF Guadalupe IS about 1900 feet
above sea level only 20 feet higher than the site
AT Flagstaff But Arizona is a little too far north
to escape entirely tho Interpretations OF north
temperate winter. MID and clear AZ It's winter is
compared with that OF the temperate" zone in
general. # sti falls little shor, Of an astrono-
niers ideal II lies on the edge OF the great cy-
conic disturbances of the belt OF the "fortes. and
IN consequence Is from time TO time favored by IT.
ruufiong of weather belonging properly further
north. Mexico ON the other hand. lies In the rop-
teal bet Of climate and IN common with all such
climates has a rainy season In summer and "A clear.
dry season In winter Mr.. Lowell hopes 10 find here
only clear skies hui also that other great IS
genital TO astronomical work. steady air.
Tho following memorandum. giving the apertures
OF IT." thirteen largcst rcfracting telescopes In the
world. vii show how the Guadalupe instrument
ranks in size. Princeton y. j.. q inches; Bruce
Photographic telescope. belonging to Harvard and
~ Washington. u. g.. and the University Of Viz
gina, Zach %; Vienna; 2, Berlin neW a2; GIecn a.
NJ. Jansscn; new instrument Mrudon. Franz me,
3.3. Lick Observatory. 80 ana the 1rrk'S tcIr-
son. soon to b. mounted for the University OF
Chicago a; Lake Geneva. Wis. 30 inches
The C!arks obtained the s.dss disks FOR the oh
,eet glass of the new Lowell telescope from Man
tots the celebrated French maker, and Avian ti
Clark reports them the finest that he ever
worked The nint and crown glass lenses are about
four inches apart: and six holes In the tubular
cell in viii h they are mounted afford an on
portunity for free circulation OF air ana also Tor
wping the inner surfaces OF the glass. Another
hole pronerly placed and large enough to admit
a human arm. permits one TO clean the rear sur
face OF the double lens. Thus removal OF the glass
and a change of adjustment are both rendered UNI
necessary. The curving or the four surfaces was
OF the Clarks establishment. u l. me Irst lens OF
us size eyer wholly finished by him. and has proved
a gratifying Success The tests made on the gass
before ii left the Clark factory have been amply
For instance the faint companion OF sirius mas
been hidden for six years In the brilliant iiSnt OF
us primary and for long time astronomers nave
sought 10 rcdscover il. ON the morning OF Au,
in that direction the companion OF SIRIUS Was
found by Or. T. J. J. See. OF Chicago, VINO mas
been az Flagstaff for more than two months MAX
ing suecial observations Of double stars. Messrs.
Lowell Douglas ana Co4shaii nave 'iso see" '''''
Tbe focal length OF the glass is thirty-ono feet,
mr. nfteen and a half times the aperture. mo
mounting and dome have several coHlPaIa.i'cly,
astronomers. one OF these. however may be real,
y understood by the uninitiated what Is c.tiien
the ''polar axis of biz telescope, that on wh'c"
Inc glass turns when sweeping from east 10 West,
Of The site and 1t Is not adapted 10 use further
north or further south. But this part or tne mount
ing Of the new Lowell glass Is adjustable 10 any
Ia titudc the equator ana 10 detrees iioi.
used anywhere the earth within those iimi's'
a