A little ramble through Lynx

 A decidedly obscure constellation despite its size, it is the 28th largest of the 88 constellations. It was introduced by Polish astronomer Johannes Hevelius in 1687 to fill the gap between Ursa Major and Auriga. He named it Lynx because only the lynx eyed would be able to examine it.

Many of the stars that are in Lynx would have during the times of the Greek astronomer Arato (315-240 BCE) have been placed in Ursa Major the Great Bear.

Alpha magnitude 3.1 is an orange K class giant star lying at a distance of 203 light years, alpha has a magnitude of 3.1.

NGC 2419

Possibly the most distant globular cluster in our galaxy lying at a distance of 300,000 light years, it can be seen as a magnitude 9.1. It was discovered by William Herschel in 1788 and is often called the intergalactic wanderer because at first astronomers thought it was not part of our Milky Way galaxy, we know now that it is.

NGC 2419 would be the "best and brightest" for any observers in the Andromeda Galaxy, looking for globular clusters in our galaxy since it lies outside the obscuring density of the main disk.

                                                    www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble in the night sky- Jupiter and Venus coming together June 9th and 10th

 On June 9th and June 10th there will be a spectacular meeting of planets as Jupiter and Venus will be very close together in the sky. You do not need binoculars or a telescope to see this fantastic sight, you can watch this with the naked eye.

If you look to the west, this is the area of sky where the Sun sets at around 9.30pm and then if you wait until just after 10.00pm you will see a very bright white dot low in the west this is Venus and just below it will be a slightly less bright white dot which is Jupiter.

The following night June 10th at about the same time in the evening  you will  notice that although both planets are still close together they will have slightly changed position relevant to each other. As the month of June goes on Jupiter will get lower in the sky.

If you are very lucky you might just catch a glimpse of Mercury which will be lower in the sky and fainter than Jupiter and Venus.

                                                    www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

Cooke Telescope Tales - New Observatory in Catania in 1890

 This observatory which was completed in 1890 is principally for astrophysics, celestial photography, meteorology and seismology. There is a 6-inch Cooke fitted with photographic apparatus; Huggins's apparatus for photographing the solar corona; Mascart's apparatus for photographing atmospherical electricity, &c.

                                                         www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - The Nebulae in the Pleiades

 Nature October 7^th 1875

In No.5 of “Publicazioni del Reale Osservatorio di Brera in Milano”, Herr Tempel has laid down the stars from the Pleiades, from the Durchmusterung , and traced the outline of the nebula near Merope as it appeared to him with a magnifying power of twenty four on a telescope of four inches aperture. The outline is shown to be elliptical, one extremity of the longer axis, the northern one, at Merope, and the inclination of this axis to the circle of declination about 18 degrees, so that as referred to Merope, the angle of position of the longer axis is 198 degrees.

M Wolf, of the Observatory of Paris, observing with the telescope of 0.31m aperture  in March 1874, perceived two nuclei, one almost concentric with Merope, the other and brighter of the two at a distance of about seven seconds, on the same parallel, following.  From the month of November 1874 to the end of February 1875 the nebula could not be seen notwithstanding the very favourable atmospheric conditions, and at the same time M Stephan was unable to detect it with the telescope of 0.80m. M Wolf concludes that the nebula is certainly variable and that its period is pretty short.

Herr Tempel remarks that generally the nebula has been much more readily seen with small telescopes than with large ones, and doubt has been expressed as to any real variability of light; yet it is not easy to understand, except upon this supposition, why the nebula should be visible at certain times in a particular telescope and invisible at others, the circumstances of the sky appearing to be about the same in all cases.

The Nebula was first remarked by Herr Tempel at Venice on the 23rd of October 1859

                                              www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Paris Observatory opening times 1875

Nature September 2^nd 1875

M. Leverrier has published in the Paris papers a notice intimating that the Observatory will be opened for observations three times a week, from half past seven, weather permitting. Two large telescopes are placed at the disposal of visitors, who may procure a letter of admission by writing to the secretary of the observatory.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - Till robbery by Cooke worker in 1867

 York Herald, Saturday 16^th March 1867

 

Henry Petch of Market Street, York a mechanic of Messrs Cooke and Sons, was charged with stealing 2 shillings from a till in the George Inn Tap, Coney Street, York. On the previous evening the defendant entered the tap and asked for liquor. He was served, after which James Allen, the occupant of the place, went up stairs. When he came down, from certain suspicions he examined the till and found that a 2 shilling piece had been stolen. 

He went out to fetch a policeman upon which the prisoner,- who was the only person who had been in the place, ran away. He was found concealed in a corner in a yard behind the tap, and thence was taken away into custody. The prosecutor stated that he had been similarly robbed before, and his suspicions had fallen upon the prisoner as the thief. In defence the prisoner said he was innocent, and had only gone into the yard behind the tap for his convenience. 

The bench were of the opinion, however that he was guilty of theft, and sentenced him to be imprisoned in the House of Correction for 14 days. 

                                                       www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

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 - A new Clinometer in 1865

 York Herald Saturday 25^th November 1865

 

We (Bombay Builder) have had the pleasure of seeing a most compact and useful clinometer and manufactured by Messrs T Cooke & Sons London and York. 

We understand the government intends to issue them to the public works department; and we have every reason to believe that the instrument will be generally made use of by the railway and other professional men for trial work. 

A gentleman who has used the instrument says, “It is impossible to over rate the advantage of this instrument, A trial path, which would have required weeks to set out by chain and level as it would have been necessary to cut down the jungle and make platforms for the instrument to stand on, was marked out in a few days and with quite as much accuracy. 

The only mistakes that can arise are from the accidental slipping of one of the cross pieces, or from moving one of the radial arms of the instrument. It is only requisite to take a glance at the face of the instrument while the hand rests upon the cross piece, to ensure its accuracy. The ease and quickness with which the instrument was used made the marking out of the trail path a pleasure to the observer, who would feel like Pegasus deprived of his wings if he had to do another under similar circumstances with level and chain instead of clinometer. 

Note

A Clinometer is an instrument used to measure angles in particular the angle of a slope or incline

                                                   www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Unclaimed property on Railway in 1867

 Sheffield Daily Telegraph Saturday 16^th March 1867

 

Among the curious things connected with the business of railways are the variety and strange character of the unclaimed property which falls in to the hands of the railways as carriers of passengers and goods.

 

One person has left a very superior astronomical telescope in mahogany case complete, and it is now unclaimed. Where is its owner and what has he been doing to render himself unconscious of the loss he has sustained? Or has he abandoned the study of astronomy for the more prosaic and common occupations of the earth?    

                                                      www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A Little ramble through Lupus the Wolf

Lupus is often overlooked by observers because it is so close to the constellation of Scorpius and Centaurus. Although the term Lupus refers to a wolf, the Greeks and Romans regarded this constellation as an unspecified wild animal held by Centaurus as an offering to the gods. It appears to be during the renaissance period that the connection with the Wolf seems to have become the common term to use.   Lupus lies in the Milky Way so it is very rich in stars.

To the Euphrateans it was Zibu the Beast while to the Akkadians it was Urbat the Beast of Death.

To the Arab astronomers it was sometimes referred to as Al Asadah or the Lioness.

Alpha is a magnitude 2.3, B class star with a temperature of around 21,000,C compared to that of 5,800,C of the Sun, it lies at a distance of 460 light years. The only names it has is Chinese and is Yang Mun the South Gate.

Beta is a class B star even hotter than alpha at 23,500,  it has a magnitude of 2.7 and is 383 light years away. It will quickly use up its supply of hydrogen and become a red giant before possibly becoming a supernova in the future.

Gamma is 420 light years away and shines with a magnitude of 2.8 it is a B class star.

Eta magnitude 3.4 is 440 light years away and is an A class star.

Epsilon also magnitude 3.4 and is a B class star lying 510 light years away. 

There are many clusters in Lupus but they require small telescopes to see them, I will mention just NGC 5986 a globular cluster lying at a distance of 34,000 light years and shining at a magnitude of 8.0 It was discovered by the Scottish astronomer James Dunlop at the Paramatta observatory in Australia.

In the year 1006 a supernova appeared in Lupus, SN 1006, it  was probably the brightest observed stellar event in recorded history, reaching an estimated −7.5 visual magnitude and was roughly sixteen times the brightness of Venus. Appearing between April 30 and May 1. The Supernova was seen for about 3 months in the sky.

                                                      www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - astronomy lectures in Leeds in 1810

Leeds Mercury Saturday 22^nd September 1810 

Theatre Leeds 

Mr Llyod has the honour most respectfully to inform the Ladies and Gentlemen of Leeds  and its Vicinity, that he intends, early as the proper arrangements can be made to give his COURSE. of ASTRONOMICAL LECTURES, illustrated by the : 

DIOASTRODOXON, Or Grand Transparent Orrery, Accompanied by the CELESTINA. 

 With all the splendid Scenery, explanatory of the seasons, eclipses , tides and comets as exhibited in London, and the University of Oxford. -The Whole forming the most perspicuous and comprehensive view of the WORKS of the CREATOR in the United Kingdom.

  Mr. Lloyd's extensive  improvements on the Transparent Orrery, having excited humble  Imitations, under the Description of Originals and Descriptions  and as no Person whoever read  upon a Transparent Orrery was ever the Inventor of one, he feels it his Duty to caution the Public, against being imposed upon by so notorious quackery. 

 Subscription to the Course, Three Lectures, Nine Shillings, Epitome included – tickets transferable 

Subscriptions are received at the Leeds Mercury Office, where may be had an Epitome of the Course . Non- Subscribers Price One Shilling.

                                                    www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through the night sky - the Micro Blue Moon on May 31st.

It’s May Moon Madness this month, as there are two full moons,  meaning the second one is a Blue Moon, and in addition, both are Micro Moons. The last time this happened was in October 2020 and the next will be in July 2053.

There will be two full moons this month, one on the first and the other on the thirty-first. This second one is referred to nowadays as a ‘Blue Moon’. The Moon takes around twenty-nine and a half days to orbit the Earth once and apart from February all months have either thirty or thirty-one days, meaning it is possible to have two full moons in a calendar month.

This use of the term ‘blue moon’ only has a history dating back to the 1940s when a letter, sent to the American astronomy magazine ‘Sky and Telescope’ (which incidentally is still published) asked the question ‘what is a blue moon?’. The answer was that it is the second full moon in a calendar month. The publishers of the magazine, realising that they had given the wrong answer, retracted their original statement. However, it was too late; the genie was out of the bottle, and for the last eighty years everyone has accepted this definition.

I have my own theory about the term ‘blue moon’. Each month I give the name of the next full moon, and as I often say, these names go back to the times of the monastic period in Britain around 1,000 years ago. The monks, who were amongst the cleverest people around during the Middle Ages due to their vast monastic libraries, knew full well that in some years there were thirteen full moons, rather the normal twelve.

Monks liked order in their lives. They kept diaries and special dates were always marked in red ink. The phrase ‘a red letter day’ is a monastic saying going back over 1,000 years. I just wonder if, when this 13th full moon occurred, it was marked in diaries in blue ink as a source of irritation because it messed up a very orderly system. I once checked the reference library in York minster without success, but maybe someone in the future will check the Vatican library and discover a monk’s diary with a full moon marked in blue ink!

You have probably heard of the Super Moon, but did you know we also have the Micro Moon?

The Moon takes around one month to orbit the Earth. Its normal distance from us is 239,000 miles.  A micro moon occurs when the Moon is more than 250,000 miles away. A supermoon is when the Moon is less than 230,000 miles away.  This is why a supermoon appears larger than normal, while a micromoon appears smaller. The discrepancy happens because the Moon does not orbit the Earth in a circle but in an ellipse or egg shape.

                                                    www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - a notable shoemaker died in 1896

 Sheffield Daily Telegraph Tuesday 4^th February 1896

 

On Sunday morning- there was carried to the grave at Darlington Cemetery Mr. W. H. Harris, who was a working shoemaker, living in a poor neighbourhood, at Hank Top, Darlington. Mr. Harris, who was 54 years old the time his death, was born at Barnard Castle.

 

Though working hard at his trade, he had attained local celebrity as an astronomer, and maker of telescopes with 9 inch and 12inch mirrors, which he, ground, figured, and silvered. This work required nice mathematical calculations, which he carefully worked out. He had intimate knowledge of optics, botany, astronomy, electricity, etc., and was a good French scholar. Mr. Harris was self-taught.

                                                    www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - comet observed in 1819

 Leeds Intelligencer Monday 12^th July 1819

The following communication from Mr. Christie of the Royal Military Academy, Woolwich, contains probably all that can be yet known of this celestial phenomenon:— “I first observed the comet," observes Mr. Christie, “last night (Saturday) a minutes before 11 o'clock, and judge that it came to the meridian about 12. Its elevation above the horizon appeared about 10°, and the sun being at the time nearly below, its distance from the sun cannot much exceed 25°.

 

The night was remarkably light, and the moon uncovered by clouds—circumstances extremely unfavourable to the brilliancy of its appearance; and considering this, I should judge that, under more favourable circumstances, its splendour would be equal to that of any comet upon record—the head viewed with Capella (to the east of it) in brilliancy. The length of the tail, which, when the comet was on the meridian, pointed somewhat to the west of the zenith, extended about 15degrees;  and unlike the comet of 1811, it appeared to proceed immediately from the nucleus.

 

 I viewed it for some time through an excellent small reflector, by Watson, and observed, that the nucleus was much denser than that of the former comet, and that there was no separation between it and the coma, but that the body became gradually rarer, and in the upper part expanded into the tail; which appearance may arise from a very dense atmosphere surrounding the nucleus, and reaching to the rarer fluid forming the tail, if there be any distinction between the two fluids, as appears to have been the case with the comet 1811. 

I may observe, that this as in all other comets, the appearance to the naked eye is much more striking and brilliant than through telescope. The Comet passed the meridian below the Pole, at the Royal Observatory, Greenwich, on Saturday, July 3, about midnight, when its place was determined as follows 

 Apparent right ascension  6h. 51m. 56S

North polar distance, corrected for re fraction 43 d 18 m  47.s

 Mean time of observation .12h 6m 56s

 

 The Comet was again observed on Monday night (July 5), but not till it had passed the meridian, when the following observations was made :

Apparent right ascension . 7h. 0m 9s

 North Polar Distance 43 d 34m 48s

Mean time of observation  12h 36m 04s

 

This was comet 1819 also known as Trailes comet that was discovered on July 1^st 1819 by the German astronomer Johann Georg Trailes. The comet was an easy naked eye object reaching between magnitude 1 to 2.

                                                     www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

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 - solar eclipse in Ceylon 1871

 Englishman's Overland Mail Wednesday 27^th December 1871 

 

The Eclipse as Observed in Ceylon 

The solar eclipse on December 12^th 1871 was most favourably observed at all the stations occupied by the scientific party under Mr Lockyer’s direction as well as by Mr Janssen. Important scientific results may be expected  to be shortly made known as indicated in the the message from Mr Lockyer. 

Here in Colombo the weather during the eventful morning was all that could be desired, but being beyond the line of totality and shadow no special scientific value can be attached to the highly interesting observations made here by several gentlemen. 

Our column this time will be unusually full of information respecting the eclipse and the special expeditions sent from home to observe it. About 3.5 inches of rain fell in Colombo between 8 00 pm on the 11^th and 5.00 am on the 12^th. We add the results of local observations:- the Sun rose obscured by clouds, which cleared off by about 6.30 .The whole surface of the Sun presented the usual strippled broken appearance, with here and there large spots. In the neighbourhood of these spots the strippling was more apparent than over the parts free of spots, but they came out in bold relief on the part of the Sun  close to the Moon’s limb. Probably this increase of distinctness was caused by contrast of the black spot &c of the dark limb of the moon. This could not be seen through the 3-inch telescope. Some little time before the greatest obscuration a halo was visible around the sun, which gave place to short bright rays. This latter appearance was probably an ocular deception, as no trace of it was visible through the 4.5-inch telescope under a low power. 

At the greatest obscuration no trace of corona was observable through the same instrument, with a solar eyepiece with a power of about 30. This was carefully looked for. The unobscured portion of the sun, about 15-16ths of its disc, was well defined, without appendages of any kind. Towards the time of centrality the diminution of daylight was very conspicuous—going from the open air into the house it was very striking. Standing in the centre of the room, and looking through the open window, the sun-shine outside was of a neutral tint. The crows commenced to assemble on the tree-tops, cawing after their usual fashion, when preparing for their night's rest. The planet Venus, high in the sky, was distinctly visible to the naked eye, and Jupiter, low down in the western horizon, was plainly discernible with the aid of an opera-glass. The thermometer at the commencement of the eclipse indicated 91.5 °F  in the sun.  At 7-15 it showed a rise of 2.5 degrees and at the greatest phase it had  fallen to 84.5°.  In the shade it stood at 76 degrees; at 6-45 and at the greatest obscuration at 75°  At 9-10, with the full blaze of the then unobscured sun, the thermometer indicated 113 °; in the shade 81°. 

 Mr. Van Dort, of the Surveyor- General's Department, with the aid of a 3-inch telescope, power 50, made some careful drawings of the different phases of the eclipse. The attempt to take the time of first contact and the ending of the eclipse proved abortive. An ordinary watch was the only time- keeper at hand. 

Instruments used in the above observations : Equatorial Telescope by Cooke and Sons, of York, 4.5  inches clear aperture, 66 inches focal length. Telescope by same makers, 3 inches clear aperture, 42 inches focal length, mounted on tripod stand." 

The above indicates the result of observations taken by Mr. Stainfurth Green at his residence in Colpetty. Mr. Stoddart, of the Surveyor- General's Office, took observations at the local observatory, showing the actual time to be 

First contact 06 h 47m 30 s am 

Greatest darkness 07h.50 m15s

Last contact 09h.00 m 20s 

Mr. W. L.H Skeen took some very successful photographic views, which show not only the progress of the eclipse, but the direction and form of the huge rays, projected from the sun or its corona, so much talked of.—Ceylon Observer.

                                                   www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Fl 4 Aquarius

 Nature August 12^th 1875

The Binary star 4 Aquarius

If good measures if this stars are practicable during the present season, an idea of the form of the orbit may perhaps be obtained. Dawes’s series of epochs will be material service in this respect; without them, doubt might have been occasioned by the two discordant epochs of Madler, which may have been owing to distorted images at low altitude.

The object is certainly one of considerable difficulty, and really trustworthy measures are perhaps only to be expected from practised observers in command of instruments of excellent definition. In Barclay’s second catalogue it is described as just elongated in the direction 144 degrees, with power of 450 on the 10 inch refractor at Leyton at th epoch 1865.74; this angle shows direct progress, very much in accordance with Dawes’s measures. Possibly the companion may now be found nearly due south of the primary.

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A little ramble through Libra the Scales

 A small faint constellation of the zodiac, the ancient Greeks knew it as the ‘claws of the scorpion’ an extension of the neighbouring constellation of the Scorpion, rather than the scales we see it as today.

However, the Romans made it a separate constellation at the time of Julius Caesar. Since then the scales of Libra have come to be regarded the symbol of justice held aloft by the goddess of justice Astraea.

The Arab astronomers knew these stars as Al Zubana or the Claws. Syrain astronomers regarded it as Masa’tha the scales the Persians also saw  a set of scales but called it Terazu.

In India it was Tula the balance while in China it was known to early astronomers as Show Sing the Star of Longevity bit later it became Tien Ching the Celestial Balance.

Alpha or Zubenelgenubi which means the ‘Southern Claw’ is actually the second brightest star with a magnitude of mag 2.7 lying at a distance of 77 light years. Zubenelgenubi is a F3 class star. A pair of binoculars will reveal that alpha is actually a double star.

Beta or Zubeneschamali or ‘Northern Claw, is actually the brightest star at magnitude  2,6 lying at a distance of 185 light years. Zubeneschmali is a B8 class star.

Gamma or Zubenelakrab or ‘Scorpion’s Claw’ magnitude 3.9 and a G8 giant star lying at a distance of 163 light years. 

Ther are no clusters or galaxies brighter than magnitude 9 in Libra

                                                     www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

Cooke Telescope Tales -Transit of Mercury May 7th 1878 & 1924

Mercury is the closest planet to the Sun in our solar system and there will be times that it will pass in front of the Sun and can be seen as a small dot slowly moving across the face of the Sun. This is a Transit of Mercury, they occur on average 13 times per century, the last was in November 2019 the next will be in 2032. 

Here is a little-known astronomical fact, two transits of Mercury separated by 46 years which occurred on the same date and were both seen using Cooke of York telescopes. 

The transit of Mercury on May 7^th 1878 (it was May 6^th in the UK) was observed at 06 hours and 40 minutes as the Sun rose in Australia, with Mercury already halfway across the surface of the Sun, this observation was made by W J MacDonnell at Sydney using a 4.25 inch Cooke telescope. 

Then 46 years later in 1924 also on May 7^th A F Bennett this time using a 6 inch Cooke telescope started observing a Transit of Mercury from 16 hours and 57 minutes from his home in Suffolk. 

Although he lived in Suffolk, he was actually born in Goole East Yorkshire and was educated at Bramham College.

www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

Cooke Telescope tales - York Exhibition 1881

 Yorkshire Gazette Saturday 7^th May 1881 

York Exhibition 

In the space intervening between the central and Great Halls, a large equatorial mounted telescope which stands 15 feet high is exhibited by Messrs T Cooke & Sons York opticians, the instrument which is an object of curiosity with an object glass of 10 inches.

 

The sale price is £1200 (my note; today that telescope would cost over £186,000)

                                                         www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - Messier 11

 Nature August 5^th 1875

The Great Cluster messier 11

As the first special publication of the Observatory of Hamburg, we have Prof. Helmert’s memoir detailing the results of his micrometrical observations of the components of this well-known cluster in the constellation of Aquila or in Clypeum or Scutum Sobieski, as many of the continental astronomers continue to call that part of the heavens which it is situate.

The memoir has a particular interest from the circumstance of Dr Lamont having similarly employed the Munich refractor in the years 1836-39.The investigation of any changes that may take place in the constituents of these groups of stars, as regards position or brightness, becomes a very attractive one, and as we know from the excellent work of Heer Pihl on the Perseus Cluster, it is not one always requiring the use of large instruments, such as have been employed in the hands of Lamont and Helmert, upon Messiewr 11.

D’Arrest terms this cluster ”magnifica innumerabilium stellarum coaservatio”; the amateur will remember Admiral Smyth’s comparison of the configuration of the components  to “ a flight of wild ducks”

                                                       www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

 

Cooke Telescope Tales - telescope for Brussels in 1880

 Yorkshire Gazette Saturday 15^th May 1880 

A York Telescope for Brussels Observatory 

Messrs T Cooke & Sons, opticians of this city, had the honour some time ago of receiving an order from the Belgium Government for an equatorial mounting for a telescope with an object glass of 15 inches diameter, which is to be placed in the Royal Observatory Brussels. 

The work has just been completed, and the instrument presents a fine specimen of mechanical art and skill. The tube about 21 feet in length, and the stand 13 feet high. The instrument is fitted with all the latest appliances, including clockwork of very delicate construction by which the telescope caused to follow the movement of the star on which it is fixed. The firm expect to pack and forward the instrument towards the end of the month. 

 

York Herald Saturday 15^th May 1880 

The telescope for the Belgium Government may be inspected by those whose who are interested

                                                       www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

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 - A third comet of 1813?

 Nature July 29^th 1875

A third Comet in 1813?

Bode after mentioning in his miscellaneous Notices (Berl. Jahrb 1818) that canon Stark of Augsburg had observed the first comet of 1813 on the 19^th February, states that Stark had also discovered on the same evening with a 3.5 feet Dollond telescope, a very small and exceedingly faint comet without tail above the variable star Mira in Cetus. Cloudy skies are said to have prevented further observation.

Bode remarks with respect to this comet that it is strange that no other astronomer had perceived it. However suspicion this circumstance may have appeared , we know that several of the comets of short period have been revolving in such orbits for one or two centuries, visiting these parts of space without doubt under favourable circumstances for observation on more than one occasion, yet entirely esc aping detection , so that the mere fact of a single observer only having seen a comet, is hardly a sufficient argument against its existence.

The late Prof D’Arrest even thought it worthwhile to submit the reputed observations of the D’Angois-comet of 1784 to further circulation, notwithstanding Encke’s well know investigation in the “Correspondance Astronomique” of the Baron de Zach and we may have something to say on this subject in a future column.

Not having seen any reference to “Starks Comet” in English astronomical works, we have given the particulars recorded of it here.

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Cooke Telescope Tales- lift for a Yorkshire Bank in 1874

 York Herald Wednesday 23^rd December 1874 

York City and County Bank 

The spacious new and enlarged bank offices in Parliament Street, which have been in progress of erection during the last eighteen months, for the use of this company, will be opened to the public for business on Monday morning next. The present bank was erected in 1835. 

Below there is ample strong room accommodation which is connected to the bank by means of ingenious hydraulic lifts, provided by Messrs T Cooke and Sons.

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A Little ramble through Lepus the Hare

 A constellation known to the ancient Greeks, it represents a hare cunningly located at the feet of Orion. The Hare was placed in the sky for Orion to Hunt. This was due to the great devastation caused by hares in the island of Sicily.

To the early Arab astronomers Lepus was known as Al Kursiyy al Jabbar or the Chair of the Giant.

Later the Arab astronomer Al Sufi sometimes called the constellation Asl Nihal or the Thirst Slacking Camel because of its closeness to the Milky Way.

Alpha or Arneb which means ‘Hare’ is a magnitude 2.6 star, it is a F class supergiant star lying at a distance of 2,200 light years. It will end its life as a supernova.

Beta or Nihal which means ‘Quenching their Thirst’ is a magnitude 2.8 star lying at a distance of 160 light years. It is a G class giant class star.

Epsilon has a brightness of magnitude 3.2 it’s an orange K class giant star 213 light years away.

R sometimes called Hind's Crimson Star, it’s a well-known variable star. It is named after famous British astronomer J. R. Hind, who observed it in 1845. The colour of R is an intense smoky red and has been described by various observers as resembling a glowing coal, a ruby, or an illuminated drop of Blood. Its magnitude varies from +5.5 to +11.7 with a period of 418–441 days. R lies around 1,300 light years away. 

Messier 79

A globular cluster discovered by Messier in 1780 and lying at a distance of 42,000 light years.  It has a magnitude of 8.6.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - occultation by Jupiter seen from Canada in 1896

 Dr J C Donaldson of Fergus, Ontario, Canada using a 3.5 inch Thomas Cooke telescope obtained a glimpse of the 9^th magnitude star in Cancer just before it was occulted by Jupiter on May 22^nd 1896. 

Several other observers had attempted to watch the occultation in Canada many with much larger telescopes but were unsuccessful.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - new telescope for Greenwich Observatory in 1888

 London Daily News Thursday 8^th March 1888 

An Addition to Greenwich Observatory. 

FLAMSTEED’S famous institution on  Greenwich Hill has been crowned with another dome. Nine or ten years ago Professor GREENE  of the Polytechnic  Institute at Troy, desiring to construct a dome on a somewhat larger scale than usual, found  that the heavy metal roof ordinarily set up would require a more substantial  structure  than he co could conveniently provide, and that powerful of machinery would be necessary for making it revolve. He determined to try what could be re done with papier mache. The experiment was a complete success. His dome proved as strong as though constructed of wood and iron, and so light that it could be turned without machinery  of any kind. 

Greenwich shortly after had  occasion to construct, a dome, and very wisely adopted the new material.  The one just now completed is the second constructed during Mr. CHRISTIE'S regime. It is eighteen feet in  diameter, and is designed for the Cooke  6-inch  equatorial telescope, with a photo-heliograph  tube attached to the same mount.  This combined instrument is to be carried on a huge as block of stone weighing 3 tons, and will stand at a sufficient elevation above the other  buildings and the surrounding trees to command a complete view of the sun throughout in the day. 

 This is what Greenwich has been unable to do hitherto, and in his last report to the Board of Visitors the ASTRONOMER ROYAL draws attention to the difficulty under which  the work of the photo-heliograph has been n carried on in past years owing to the want of  such an observatory as he has now succeeded in  setting up, though as yet unfortunately the funds for the complete equipment of the new al building are not forthcoming. It has been hinted, by those who certainly are in a  position to be well informed, that unless somewhat greater liberality be extended  to the Observatory it may become necessary to discontinue the time signals, upon which the country has come to rely almost  as implicitly as on the rising and setting of the sun. 

 It would certainly be a novel sensation for the public to find their supply of Greenwich time cut off, after the manner of the water companies when they cannot get their money. This is certainly rather a formidable screw  Mr. CHRISTIE has at command, though it is to be hoped he may not have occasion to apply it to  the Treasury. There is no doubt, however, that to stint funds at Greenwich Observatory is very  poor policy. Its practical utility in all sorts of ways is simply incalculable. 

 We may add to what has been stated about the new building, that it is here that Greenwich will take its a share in the projected complete photographic  map of the starry heavens.

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A Little Ramble Through 19th Century Astronomy - star 27 Canis Minor in 1875

 Nature June 17^th 1875

Mr J E Gore (Umballa, Punjab) writes, under May 5^th 1875 that he believes that the star 27 Canis Minoris to be a variable star. It is 4 in Hardin’s Atlas but at present about 5.5 or 6, and much inferior to 28 Canis Minoris which Harding rates at 5.

The change in Brightness was first noticed in 1874. This star is 4.5 in the Radcliffe Catalogues, % in Arg Zones, 5.5 in Lacaille and 6.5 in Heis’ catalogue; Behrmann has 6, and the lowest estimate of magnitude 7 is in Flamsteed’s catalogue, with respect to which Baily remarks that there is  no magnitude recorded in the original observation book, and that the modern observation makes it 4.5.

Mr Gore states he has also suspected some variations in light in the red star 22 Canis Majoris; it is usually rated as of magnitude 3 or 3.5, but for some time past it has seemed rather fainter than an ordinary star of the fourth magnitude. Bradley and Piazzi have this star 3.4 magnitude, while Flamsteed, Brisbane and Heis have it at 4, the Washington General 5, and it is so rated once by Argelander; in Behrmann it is 4.5.

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A little Ramble Through 19th Century Astronomy - T Corona Borealis

 Astronomical Register August 1866

To the editor,

Sir- So interesting have been the phenomena attending the extraordinary increase in brightness of the small star in the Bonn Catalogue known as T Coronae, that an enumeration of its successive independent discoveries can hardly fail to be acceptable.

The first discoverer was Mr Birmingham of Tuam in Ireland who saw it about midnight on the 12^th May and described it them as of the 2^nd magnitude.

The next evening, May 13^th it was independently discovered by Herr Schmidt, the director of the observatory at Athens, who saw it about 9h local time, as soon as the clouds broke, and calls it a little fainter than alpha coronae; and by M. Courbe-Caisse at Rochefort.

On the night of May 14 it was detected the other side of the Atlantic by Mr S C Chandler, assistant to Mr Gould, on the United States Coast Survey. He starts that in magnitude it was between beta and gamma Herculis-nearer to gamma.

The last independent discoverer, so far as is yet known, was Mr Baxendell of Manchester, who discovered it on May 15.

On May 16 the spectrum was observed by Mr Huggins and Dr Miller, and those extraordinary phenomena noticed which are known to astronomers.

I am Sir, yours faithfully W T Lynn

Greenwich July 6 1866

PS- July 19.

This morning, I have received No 1597 of the Astronomische Nachrichten, in which another independent discovery of T Coronae is announced in America. Being made at Washington on the night of May 12^th, corresponding to the morning of May 13^th in Europe, it ranks second or next to Mr Birmingham’s in order of priority. The discoverer was Mr Farqubar , as the name is printed in the Ast Nac; it should probably be Farquhar of the Patent Office.

I had overlooked that besides Mr Chandler, another gentleman in the western hemisphere – Mr Barker of London, Canada West- detected the star on May 14.

My list is now, I am pretty confident, complete unless we hear of earlier discoveries in Asia, which however, cannot anticipate Mr Birmingham’s by more than an hour or two.

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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 sale in Liverpool 1885

 Pall Mall Gazette Friday 2^nd January 1885 

 ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY WITH  TELESCOPE AND APPOINTMENTS COMPLETE. 

To be SOLD, a bargain, on account of the owner's eyesight, an excellent Equatorial-mounted  TELESCOPE by Cooke, 4.5 inch diam.; Dawe's solar and numerous other eyepieces, micrometer, induction  coil and battery, automatic and star spectroscopes, spark condenser, clock by Cooke, barometer 7-10  diam., observing chair, complete sets of the memoirs and monthly notice's of the R.A.S., Astronomical Register and Observatory,  with indexes, and a number of other astronautical works, all in the best possible condition. The above presents a very rate opportunity  to astronomical students 

Address  "Telescope," care of Lee and Nightingale, Advertising Agents,  Liverpool

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Cooke Telescope Tales - observatory and telescope for sale in Liverpool in 1885

 Pall Mall Gazette, Friday 2^nd January 1885 

 

ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORY WITH  TELESCOPE AND APPOINTMENTS COMPLETE.

 

To be SOLD, a bargain, on account of the owner's eyesight, an excellent Equatorial-mounted  TELESCOPE by Cooke, 4.5 inch diam.; Dawe's solar and numerous other eyepieces, micrometer, induction  coil and battery, automatic and star spectroscopes, spark condenser, clock by Cooke, barometer 7-10  diam., observing chair, complete sets of the memoirs and monthly notice's of the R.A.S., Astronomical Register and Observatory,  with indexes, and a number of other astronautical works, all in the best possible condition. The above presents a very rate opportunity  to astronomical students

 

Address  "Telescope," care of Lee and Nightingale, Advertising Agents,  Liverpool.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - Sunderland Scientific Exhibition 1882

 Sunderland Daily Echo and Shipping Gazette Friday 17^th February 1882

 The Sunderland Scientific and Industrial Exhibition 

The exhibition will be held at the Skating Rink Hudson Road and included Mr John G Allison of the Old Rectory Monkwearmouth, who exhibited a portable telescope which will be found worthy of our astronomical students.

 The object glass in 4 inches in diameter and 5 feet focal length withy polished brass tube and finder attached. It has 4 eyepieces powers from 80 to 300 and is fixed on a strong polished walnut tripod stand. 

I believe this the telescope purchased by John G Allison in 1866 from Thomas Cooke and Sons when Mr Allison was living at 12 Cumberland Row Newcastle.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - John Dansken and the Patrickhill Observatory

John Dansken who was born in Glasgow in 1836 was by profession a surveyor and an enthusiastic amateur astronomer  who built an observatory at his home in Patrickhill, Glasgow which included a 5 inch telescope by Thomas Cooke of York, there was also a larger 13 inch reflector made by D Hunter of Lanark. 

A number of smaller instruments were also housed there including telescopes by Wray and Dollond. He also had one of the finest astronomical libraries in the West of Scotland. John Dansken died in 1905.

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Cooke Telescope Tales - TW Backhouse and comet Swift 1892

TW Backhouse of Sunderland using his 4.5 inch Thomas Cooke & Sons telescope reports on comet Swift 1892. He says that there appeared to be little notice of this comet. Backhouse said that he saw the comet on April 26^th 1892 through a miniature spectroscope on his Cooke telescope. Although the best views of the comet so far were obtained on April 29^th when although faint it was visible to the naked eye. The comet had a tail 11 degrees long. On April 30^th the head of the comet was about 4^th magnitude and was seen between mu and lambda Pegasus.

                                                         www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk