Crawford avalanche. (Grayling, Mich.) 1879-19??, 1897-11-11

the great equatorial is suspended is COW
cred with an iron dome 30 feet in dame
ter and GO feet in height. The tube of
The telescope has a length of more than
60 feet and is hung upon supports whose
foundations of solid granite sink deep
into the earth. The dome is placed upon
thirty-sx wheels, each yard in diameter,
and is moved in any desired direction by
machinery, while there is n movable floor
which, by very clever mechanism, can be
made to rise or fall so that no matter ut
what angle the telescope may be set the
observer can stand on the floor to do his
work or seat himself in chair, lifting
the floor from time to time as may be nee
essary.
The uninitiated should understand that
when telescope is fixed upon star the
instrument does not keep the object in TO-
Gus more than a minute, unless especial
provision is made for moving the telescope
with the apparent motion of the star. The
star really stands STILL but the motion of
the earth upon its axis is constantly pac-
Ing the telescope ont Of focus and, there
fore, means have been devised by which
the telescope can be moved at a rate equal
to that of the apparent motion of the star,
10 that when the object is once in focus
and the clock work which moves the tele-
scope is started, the instrument will fol-
how the star from dark until dawn. thus
giving ample time for observations of any
length As in spite of the wonderful me-
ehanism used in the work Il large telescope
~ not easily moved. the star to be observ-
ed is FIRST located by means of the Find
err" much smaller telescope, and the
position in the heavens of the object be-
~ -
moved according to the scale OF gradu-
ated circle placed just beneath and an
exact focus is obtained. The Yerkcs tce-
scope is fully equipped with every modern
invention. not only for observing. but also
for recording the observations. Photo
graphic and spectroscopic apparatus may
be connected with the telescope i'm such n
way us TO make, with the aid of this in
strument, the most delicate records of the
nppearance of the celestial lights and as
certain their composition.
What may be expected from the new in
s,rumcnt is indicated by the information
gained on the first evening of observation.
The instrument was turned on the moon
Ms the nearest, and, in many respects, the
most interesting of our celestial neigh
hors. Considerable excitement has been
aroused in astronomical circles by reports
from Paris that the observers there de-
tcctcd. or. thought they detected, appear
snccs in the moon indicating the presence
of water and vegetation. The accepted
theory is that the moon is n dead world
having no atmosphere, and if there is any
water. il has retired to the interior Of oui
celestial companion. The observations
through the Yerkes telescope confirm this
opinion, for though much detail hitherto
unobscrvcd came into view, no indications
were observed Of atmosphere, water OF
vegetation. Ii is anticipated that very
interesting discoveries will be made will
reeard to Mars. The advance in tele
scopes has been followed by correspond
ing increase of knowledge with regard t
This remarkable planet, and the public in
tcrcst aroused through the discoveries o
thc astronomers and the speculations o
imaginative writers, has led to livel.
scmand for further information whicl