Thomas Cooke telescopes used to observe Saturn in 1853

 Notice of Saturn and his rings By Mr Isaac Fletcher

“ On several very fine nights towards the close of October 1853, I carefully examined the planet Saturn with my 6 foot equatorial of 4.5 inches aperture, and on every night I distinctly and steadily saw the new obscure interior ring, which was discovered last years by Messrs Bond and Dawes. On each occasion I estimated its breadth at almost exactly one third of the space between the inner edge of the bright ring and the planet. Its colour to my eye is a dusky grey. In all the observations a power of 300 was found most efficient. Of the division of the outer ring my telescope afforded no evidence whatever. This of course, I anticipated from its limited aperture.

On the 12^th of the month (November) I paid a visit to my friend Mr Pattison, of Scots House, near Newcastle upon Tyne; and about 8 o’clock in the evening we directed Mr Pattinson’s equatorialy mounted achromatic telescope of 10.3 feet focus and 7.25 inch clear aperture upon Saturn, and subjected the planet to a rigorous scrutiny. At this hour the state of the atmosphere was exceedingly favourable for delicate observations; and with powers of 400 and 440 the definition of the planet and rings was almost perfect, the outlines being exceedingly hard and sharp. The presence of the moon was of course unfavourable for seeing very faint objects; notwithstanding this, however the interior obscure ring was obvious and distinct, but we had no evidence of its being multiple. In moments of best vision Mr Pattinson and I were both quite satisfied of the existence of a very narrow faint line on the outer ring; and we were both of the opinion that this line was nearer to the outer than the inner edge of the ring. This line was only visible at intervals, and after the most steady gazing; nevertheless, the evidence obtained, was sufficient to satisfy us of its existence. In a short time, the state of the atmosphere deteriorated very considerably, and we were unable to obtain any further views of the faint line, which may fairly be assumed to be a division in the outer ring.

I am induced to make this communication to the Royal Astronomical Society, not because it contains any new facts, but because it confirms some important particulars the observations of other astronomers. Mr Pattinson’s equatorial is a recent specimen of the skill of Mr Cooke of York”

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