Practical observations on telescopes.

  • William Kitchiner
Date:
1815
Catalogue details

Licence: Public Domain Mark

Credit: Practical observations on telescopes. Source: Wellcome Collection.

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    that the rationale of Telescopes has this in common with other sciences, that what is most worth learning is easiest learned ; and is, like all other sciences, reduced to a few clear points: there are not many certain truths in this world. The principal modem discoveries in Astronomy have been made by Dr. Her- schell, which have not arisen from the wonderful magnitude of his optical ma¬ chineries, but from his indefatigable and matchless perseverance as an observer : and the astronomical world is greatly indebted to him for the time and labour that he has sacrificed in making experiments to ascer¬ tain the powers of reflecting telescopes, which it is presumed he has carried to the “ ne plus ultra,” both in perfection and magnitude, having built one stupendous telescope of the prodigious length of forty feet — with an aperture of four feet. Of the performance of this enormous engine I cannot speak, never having seen through it: however, this I may say with great truth, that his perseverance in constructing
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