Many thanks to all the people who look at my blogs.
Just to let everyone know that I am back off on another rambling astronomer mission to the gamma quadrant, this means that there will be no blogs until Friday November 14th 2025
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Nature July 3rd 1873
We learn that there has been erected a small observatory on
the Columbia (U.S.) College campus for educational and we hope, also for
scientific purposes. The observatory is furnished with an equatorial, accompanied
by a seven prism spectroscope by Clark, and a position micrometer, besides an
altazimuth and a zenith telescope.
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The great comet of 1882 was first seen in September of that year and was observed and photographed by astronomers all around the world. This included from India.
On September 25th 1882 H Collett from Lahore, the
Punjab, India observed the comet with a 4.5 inch Cooke telescope. At 04 hours
and 50 minutes local time the comet was estimated to be about 14 degrees long
and of unusual breadth. The borders of the tail appear much brighter that the
central part.
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Cooke Instruments were of the highest quality but by the 1920s with a slump in trade around the world for optical instruments Cooke’s were now discovering the penalty of making instruments too well, they did not need repairing!
The campaign was not just in the UK it was also global, and
senior salesmen were sent to the various Cooke offices around the world to try
to drum up extra business. It worked briefly but sadly for Cookes and other
major industries around the world the Great Wall Street Crash in 1929 signalled
the beginning of the Great Depression in the 1930s and the demand for optical
instruments ceased almost overnight.
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Astronomical Register February 1865
Sir,- Some of your correspondents have asked for a diagram for the stars near the planet Uranus is at presented situated, I herewith send you one, which I trust will meet the requirements of amateurs.
To find Uranus.- With the naked eye direct your attention to
the constellations Taurus and Gemini. Having noted the stars beta and zeta at
the tips of the bull’s horns, and mu, nu and gamma at the feet of the twins,
proceed (see diagram) along an imaginary line for my Gemini toward beta Taurus,
passing by eta Gemini 4th mag. To No.1 Gemini full 5th
mag. Between this latter star and beta Taurus will be perceived a triangle of 5th
mag stars, viz: 132, 136 and 139 Taurus. Now the planet Uranus will be found situated
a little below a line drawn from 1 Gemini to 132 Taurus, the lowest of the
triangle.
Uranus being generally invisible to the naked eye, the telescope must be pointed towards the place indicated in order to see it. Perhaps on first trial it will not be easily found and the star 132 will be in the field; if so this will be readily known by its having a small 7th mag star near to it. Before leaving this star note well its apparent brightness, for Uranus is not quite so bright, and can easily be found by pointing the telescope a little s.f.
Having got Uranus in the field, unless you have a large and good telescope, you will only see a dull looking object, and will not be able satisfactory to make out its disc. If now you show it to some of your friends not versed in planetary lore, you will most likely be greeted with “Oh! Is that all?” and excite feelings, if not expressions of scepticism as to its being a planet.
Unless possessed of a large telescope, the best way of
observing Uranus is to use, not a telescope, but far better, a binocular opera
or field glass. With such an instrument, Uranus can be found and shown almost
instantly. Having other stars in the field at the same time with it, its planetary nature is made palpable in a week, by its varied its position with
regard to its neighbours.
I am, Sir your obedient servant, T M Simkiss
Waterloo Road Wolverhampton
January 16th 1865
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Nature, June 19th 1873
M Leverrier has entered on his new office of Director of the
French National Observatory. The Observatory Board has decided on his formal
proposition that they shall co-operate with the Bureau des Longitudes for
taking a new measure of the French arc from Dunkerque to Oran via Spain.
Commander Perrier will be the chief geodesist for that most important survey.
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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.
