The Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio

 Join me, Martin Lunn MBE every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the award-winning Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio, probably the only regular astronomy show on any radio station in the country. 

I will take my weekly look at the night sky and look at all the latest news in astronomy. There will be the astronomical anniversaries this week plus the latest news from the astronomical societies in the north of England.

The Astronomy Show every Monday evening only on Drystone Radio live online at www.drystoneradio.com DAB radio in Bradford and East Lancashire, or 102 and 103.5 FM and can also be heard later on the Drystone Radio Podcast.

 

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Mira Ceti in 1779

Nature July 6^th 1876

Mira Ceti

Reference is often made in treatises on astronomy to the unusual degree of brilliancy attained by this variable star at the maximum of 1779.

From the observations of Bode, Herschel and Wargentin, we have the following particulars of the augmentation and diminution of brightness in that year.

Aug 22 – Invisible in an ordinary 2 feet telescope

Sept 8 – Seen with the same instrument but very faint

Sept 18 Immediately visible to the naked eye according to Herschel. Bode estimated it magnitude 4

Oct 5 and Oct 6 – Already much brighter than Menkar (alpha Ceti)

Oct 15- Oct 19 – Equal to alpha Arietis on the 15^th and still brighter on the 19^th; the light reddish

Oct 30 – According to Wargentin, it was equal to Aldebaran and of the same colour, or even of the redness of Mars which was observable the same night. In a 10 feet achromatic Mira shot out vivid red rays. Herschel considered it midway in brightness between alpha Arietis and Aldebaran.

Nov 2 – There was even an increase, in the judgement of Herschel

Nov 11 – Visible as early as Aldebaran and Mars

Nov 20 – As bright as, but not brighter than stars of the second magnitude, according to Herschel, but on the 25^th much brighter than Menkar, though less than Aldebaran according to Wargentin

Dec 4 – Only equal to alpha Arietis

Dec 7 and Dec 10 – So much diminished since November 25, that it was now hardly equal to Menkar, and its colour was now whiter.

Dec 25 – Before the Moon rose equal to gamma Ceti, or of the third magnitude

Dec 29 – Only a little brighter than the fourth magnitude; not equal to gamma or delta Ceti

Argelander gives for the date of maximum Nov 6 1779

                                                      www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

 

 

 

Cooke Telescope Tales - two telescopes for sale in Newcastle in 1945

Two Cooke telescopes were being offered for sale in Newcastle in 1945 by Hartley Hopper. One was a 4 inch and the other was a 5 inch. I don’t have any information regarding the histories of these two telescopes.

                                                        www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

Cooke Telescope Tales - Telescope for sale in Manchester in 1952

 In 1952 a telescope with a 5 inch lens made by Thomas Cooke & Sons was for sale. It was the property of Mr H L Dilks who I believe had been a previous president of the Manchester Astronomical Society between 1937 - 45. As is often the case I don’t know who might have owned the telescope before Mr Dilks. 

Although the lens and equatorial mount, iron pillar and clockwork drive were made by Cooke the tube and finder telescope had been made by Wary. 

In addition to the telescope a small portable wooden observatory was also offered for sale.

                                                       www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

 

A little ramble through 19thy century astronomy - few sunspots in 1876

 Nature June 22^nd 1876

According to the photographs taken daily at Montmartre by M. Janssen , no spots have now been noticed on the Sun since March 25^th. At the last meeting of the Paris Academy, M. Leverrier announced that in addition to the solar work to be carried out by M. Janssen in the new physical observatory of Paris, M. Cornu has been appointed to make corresponding searches in the National Observatory. 

                                                        www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

Cooke Telescope Tales - Charles Pritchard and his telescope

 Charles Pritchard FRAS (1808-1893)  Hurst Hill on the Isle of Wight purchased from Thomas Cooke & Sons in 1865 an equatorial mounting for his Cooke telescope. I can only assume he wanted to upgrade the mounting for the telescope he had . 

In the late 1850s Pritchard had purchased from Cooke & Sons a 6.75 inch telescope. 

Pritchard was elected Savilian professor of Astronomy at Oxford University in 1870. 

In 1882 he undertook the study of the brightness of 2,784 stars, this was an important  project at the time and for this work he was presented with the Gold Medal of the Royal Astronomical Society in 1886.

                                                       www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Montsouris Observatory 1876

 Nature June 8^th 1876

Regular courses of lectures have been established at the Naval Observatory, Montsouris, for the officers of the French National navy attached to the establishment. The general principals of astronomical observations are lectured upon by M. Loewy; Special Naval methods, by Capt. Turquet, the Director of the establishment;  Terrestrial Magnetism, by M. Marie Davy, Director of the Montsouiris Observatory. Spectroscopy, by MK. Cornu; Photography in its application to astronomy, by M. Angot, of the National Observatory of Paris. 

All the observations made by the pupils are submitted to correction, and will be utilised as far as possible for  the improvement of the Connaissance des Temps.

www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk