Cooke telescope Tales - telescope to Worcester Sauce in 1867

 If you think of Worcester Sauce you may think of Lea & Perrins, what you might struggle to find is a link with astronomy. However in 1867 James Dyson Perrins (1823-1887) purchased a 3.25 inch educational telescope from Thomas Cooke & Sons York. 

James Dyson Perrins was the son of William Henry Perrins who joint founded the company in 1837 with John Wheeley Lea. He would help run the company after the death of his father. 

James was keen to increase the educational institutions in Worcester. He also supported the Public Library and many charitable institutions in Worcester. 

As is often the case I have no further information on what happened to the telescope.

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

 Nature June 1^st 1876

The Observatory at Athens

The death is announced of Baron Simon von Sina, son of the founder of the observatory at Athens, which has been under the direction of M Bouris and Herr Julius Schmidt.

The deceased Baron is mentioned as a liberal patron of this establishment, though not himself engaged in scientific pursuits, and Herr Schmidt writes doubtfully of the future of the observatory.

Every astronomer will entertain the hope that this most laborious  and successful observer – distinguished not only by his great work upon the Moon, but for his numerous discoveries and observations of variable stars, his long and important series of observations of comets, of short period and otherwise, in which he made excellent use of the advantages of his southern position, and many other valuable contributions to  observational astronomy – may continue to hold, under favourable auspices, the direction of an establishment which his excerptions have made so honourably known in the astronomical world.

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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.

Cooke Telescope Tales - telescope for Cambridgeshire in 1864

Algernon Peckover FRAS (1803-1894) was a banker from Wisbech, Cambridgeshire, in 1864 he purchased a Thomas Cooke & Sons 5.5-inch telescope. 

There were 5 astronomical eyepieces, and it came with a plain equatorial mounting. The cost was £130 (today 2026 that would be over £21,400). 

In 1865 he purchased a driving clock for the equatorial

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A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Paris Observatory in 1876

 Nature May 25th 1876

Paris Observatory

There is at present being erected in the Paris Observatory Gardens a house for the Bishofsheim transit instrument, which has been constructed admirably by Eichens.

The house possesses many peculiarities and was designed by M Leverrier for the better insuring of equality of temperature.

The roof can be removed on horizontal rails, and the walls are so perforated that there is a continual circulation of air in all parts. The frame of the house may be said to be pneumatic, as it has been constructed on a system analogous to that of the bones of birds. It is sure to work admirably.

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Cooke telescope Tales - telescope for Oxford in 1859

 In 1859 Edward Moore of Queens College Oxford purchased a 3 inch telescope from Thomas Cooke. 

I have no further details on either the man or the telescope

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A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - new red star in 1876

Nature May 25^th 1876

Mr Birmingham, Millbrook, Tuan, mentions (Astro Nache 2092) his having remarked an intensely red star of magnitude 8.5 which is not in Schjellerup’s catalogue. From its approximate position given the star appears to be No.  3168 in Durchmusterung, where it is estimated at magnitude 8.5. It has not been found in any other catalogues.

Today this star is known as T Lyrae in the constellation of Lyra.

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