Evening star., 1897-03-06
What Travel, Science and Industry
Have Discovered.
TEE LARGEST TELESCOPE YET
Its Gigantic Lens to Be Made in
Over-12O Sections.
A GIANT STORAGE BATTERY

Written for The Evening Star.
A new telescope has been ordered for
the astronomical observatory on Mt. Lowe,
near Pasadena, Cal, that will not merck
be twice the size and power of the largest
telescope now In existence, but in its con-
struction represents such a radical depart
ure that, If successful 1t will open a new
epoch in astronomy. Indeed, it Is promised
that high power telescopes such as now
entail the expenditure of hundreds Of thou
sands Of dollars, will become so cheap that
every high school and educational tnstitu-
ton in the country might afford to own
one. The basis for these extraordinary
rredic tions is the fact that the new tele
scope for Mt. Lowe will be simply an as
semblage of small telescopes, which in
their combination will have the same power
an immense glass Of the same aggre-
gate objective. AS every one Is aware
the cost of lens increases very rapidly
in proportion to its size. The 42-inch OBJ
jective for the new Yerkes instrument
which has just been completed. alone cost
$4,000, cast in the rough. The grinding
and polishing may have cost twice as much
more. Another fact which is less under
stood Is that the large lens which forms
the objective of a telescope Is not mag
niier, but light gatherer. The magni-
ficatfon of the image is done by the eye
piece. 1t was this fact, set off against the
Immense cost of lenses of very great size.
that led an ingenious German inventor.
now living In Chicago. to the idea that
instead of an objective formed Of a single
large lens he might make the latter In
sections. so to speak, and accomplish the
same result and even much more.
At first glance 1t seems simply absurd
to suppose that great lens made in sec
tions with the necessary breaks In between,
would be worth anything whatever. since
the casting, grinding and polishing OF q
ty. tolr fcln
or for the new Yerkes observatory. literally
requires years of the most patient and un-
remitting effort And even then there are
often imperfections which make the IN
strument far from perfect. But accord
Ing to tie theory upon which the Lowe
telescope is to be constructed, II the sub
stance which fills the interstics between
l. the different small lenses be opaque. and
likewise of such character as not to de-
velop the prsmatic colors, not only Will
the vision not be impeded in the least. but
a great lens far more perfect than or any
single glass may be built up in this way.
Weighing far less than the Lick. the cost
of the mount Of the Lowe telescope like Its
lens. will be comparatively small. and no
monster glass roof observatory will be re-
qured for its housing. Yet, further, Prof.
Lowe believes that the new telescope will
not only be capable of much finer work
than any glass now in existence, on account
of it's size, but that 1t would do this We're
its diameter equal only to that of the Lick
or Yerkes. A lens yard in diameter, made
of single piece of glass. is exceedingly
sensitive to the minute variations of tenn
perature.
If it be possible to build a glass with an
objective Of five or six feet, without loss
of power, there is nothing to hinder the
construction of a glass ten or twelve feet
in diameter and by thus increasing the
light gathering area, to eorrespondingly en-
large the magnifyfng power Of the eye
niece. Prof Lowe Is, indeed, sanguine that
the new telescope is fresh beginning, as
he puts 1t. in astronomy. And beyond all
this he bids us look for the day when every
village, SO to speak, will have its Lick tele
scope made not by hand but by machinery!