The Washington herald., 1906-10-14
BIGGEST SKY SEARCHER
Chicagoan Planning Erection
of Great Telescope.
LENS 100 INCHES IN DIAMETER
Glass VIII Weigh Over -Four Tons
and VIII Be Cast In FFanee-MOunt
Wilson Observatory, at Pasadena,
Cal. to be the Home of the New
TeIeseope-Funds Donated.


All the famous telescopes of the world
are TO be put 10 the shade by a man
moth sky searcher about 10 be manufac-
tured for the Mount Wilson Observatory
ar Pasadena. Cal
The new instrument is not the concep-
ton OF a hare-brained theorlst, but is
projected by one Of the most eminent as
rcnonlers Of the day. Prof George Z.
Hale, a Chicago man. fun OF the spirit Of
Il VIII for many years al The head 0f
tho astronomical research department Of
the University of Chicago. and director CT
the Yerkes Observatory from the time OF
It's establishment until his removal 20
California three years ago to take charge
Of the new solar observatory upon the
summit Of Mount Wilson Prof. Hale Is
not sensatiOnalist II astronomy. He is
not given TO boast.ng but Is known
among MS professional brethren as one
who has achieved results Therefore
when he announces that the largest tele-
scope in the world-in fact twice the size
Of any other now IN operation-is 10 he
constructed al his Mount Wilson station
IL Is rot with flourish of trumpets and
eXtraVagant predictions of the wonderful
discoveries 10 be made with IL. but quietly.
modestly. Ia the pages OF his Aslrophysi-
cal Journal. just being issued from the
University Of Chicago press.
Glass TO BE of Great size.
As a matter Of fact. Prof. Hale realizes
only too well the limitations Of the large
telescope. II size were all that is neces-
sary. Western energy would achieve the
construction OF a telescope large enough
to read not only the secrets of the Mar
dan canals. but ascertain the nature and
habits OF the mythical Martfans them
selves. But difficulties and hlndrances in
crease in direct ratio with the size OF the
telescope and while fully reaLz-1g its
value. Prof. Hale is rot overcoufdeat iu
speaking OF the work to be done by the
new giant star searcher.
The object glass Of this nov instrument.
which Is 10 cost $4,000, will be a dlsA o1
solid plate glass l0O inches IN diameter
and thirteen inches thick. This glass
alone viii weigh four and one-half tons.
IL is 10 be cast by the Plate Glass Com
paay. Of ST Gobian, France. from whose
works the object glasses Of nearly all the
large telesc- pes have emanated- This
glass must be absolutely without flaw
and as clear as 1t is possible for crystal
10 be. The managers OF the company
have expressed their confidence in being
able &c produce q disk which viii satisfy
The requirements.
Special Grinding Machine.
This gigantic pane viii be shipped half
way round the world to Pasadena, Cal.
where in the observatory workshop It
viii be ground. polished and tested AL
this Is TO be done by Prot. c. Willis
Ritchey, who has no peer in this line or
work. Mr.. Ritchey is another Chicagoan.
and II association with Prof Hale.
helped TO make the YerlSes Observatory
what IL is he superintCnded the con-
stTucuOn Of large part 0f It's equipment
and has been doing the same thing al
Pasadena Incidentally he has achieved
much renowa as an astronomer.
This mammoth telescope was made pos
sible by a gift 70 the Carnegie Institute
II which the Mount Wilson Observatory
IS part. Of $1,000 for the express purpose
by John D. Hooker, CT Los Angeles. This
fund VIII pay for the lens ald all the
expense Incident 10 making Il a perfect
mirror. Il does not provide for the
mounting, which must come later from
some other source. Prot Hale has
no fears Of being able to secure The
money when it is needed and, indeed. he
Will have plenty Of time, as it viii req qJire
four years 70 complete the object glass
after il has been received into The shops
OF tac observatory. For working it
special grinding machine must be con
structed- also plane glass mirror ffty-
four inches in diameter and several small
er plane and convex mirrors.
Will Have Separate Building.
When complete the telescope will have
an aperture Of feet ( inches. and
length Of fifty feet Designs for the
mounting have been made by the Union
Iron Works and accepted. y building wi
be constructed Which can be maintained
at an even temperature separate from The
present buildings on Mount Wilson.
There has never been but one other
telescope as large as tt4s. That was
the famous Lord Ross telescope IN Eng
land, The mirror In that instrument was
made Of speculum metal, and while II had
great magnifyi1g power. the image form
ed was so indislnCt that il would be
practically worthless for present pur-
poses Il is in that very feature tha;
every large telescope is limited Il is
hoped. however. that this new Instrument
will give a clear and distinct definition.
but II is largely in the nature Of an ex-
pertinent and its real value can only be
determined by trying II out Mr. Hooker
Is fully aware Of this. but believes that at
all events the instrument Will be worth
rs cost. and az least the experiment is /
worth trying There are some lines OF
work. such as measuring the heat radia-
ton Of stars and spectroscopic study OF
faint stars III which IL is sure 10 yield
good results. and with the excellent al
mospkeric conditions usually obtaining
al Mount Wilson It is quite certain TO be I
the means OF adding largely 10 the sum Of
asJTont mical knowledge, even though the
sttry OF the canals in Mars may not be
decipheTed
Reform.