Comet seen from Gibraltar in 1860 with a Thomas Cooke telescope

 Colonel De Rottenburg wrote in a letter dated June 24^th, 1860, from Gibraltar. “I observed a brilliant comet in the constellation of Auriga this evening, a line from beta through a Geminorum continued about three times their distance passed through its nucleus. 

It was easily seen with the naked eye; the nucleus was a little less brilliant than Castor. Its altitude above the western horizon about equal to that of Venus at the same time. 

I turned my 6 feet equatorial of 4.5 inches aperture made by Messrs Thomas Cooke & Sons of York on the comet. 

It has a bifid tail, very like that of the year 1846 as shown in Keith Johnsone’s Atlas of Astronomy which is edited by Mr Hind. I used powers of 26, 50 and 100 on the comet; the nucleus has a very sensible disk. It bore the powers of 100 very well; one portion of the tail is much longer than the other, the south preceding being the longer. 

With 100 power the nucleus was situated within the nebulosity, and the nebulosity was more arched and prominent on the south preceding part. It was first seen by a gentleman here on Saturday evening 23^rd June.

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Chester astronomer selling a Cooke telescope then buying a Cooke telescope

 In 1865 Dr William Murray Dobie of Kings Buildings Chester purchased a 6inch Telescope from Thomas Cooke &Sons. This telescope cost £120 

Dr Dobie was advertising for sale a 5.5 inch telescope that he had brought from Cookes in 1863. I have no idea why he was replacing this telescope as he described it as nearly new, it was only 2 years old and he described it as being of the first rate. He was selling this Cooke telescope for 65 guineas without its stand,

 

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Thomas Cooke telescope for London in 1868

Jonathan Crowley of Clarendon Road, London purchased in 1868 a 3 inch telescope with total reflection prism from Thomas Cooke & Sons. This was subsequently changed for a 4 inch telescope also from Thomas Cooke & Sons. 

                                                         www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

The Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio

 Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the 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.

Publican who bought a Cooke telescope in 1864

Alfred Compton a Publican from Barnsbury Terrace in London I don’t know what pub he ran ordered a 3.75 inch telescope from Thomas Cooke & Sons in 1864. The instrument had a focal length of 4 feet. 

This particular instrument was made in York but sent down to the Cook & Sons shop in Southampton Street London to be collected

                                                      www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

 

 

Annular Eclipse of Sun 21st January 1292 seen from China

Chiih-yuan-period, 29^th year, the first month, day chia-wu.

The Sun was eclipsed, a darkness invaded the Sun, which was not totally covered. It was like a golden ring. There were vapors like golden earrings on the left and right and a vapor like a halo surrounding it. This refers to the annular eclipse of 21^st January 1292. The halo is caused by ice crystals in the Earth’s atmosphere.

                                                      www.theramblingastronomer.co.uk

The Astronomy Show on Drystone Radio

 Join me, Martin Lunn MBE tonight and every Monday evening from 7.00 pm-9.00 pm on the 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.