The Rocky Mountains Telescope

On the 20th of October in the preceding year, after the close of the subscription, the president of the Gun Club had credited the Observatory of Cambridge with the necessary sums for the construction of a gigantic optical instrument. This instrument was designed for the purpose of rendering visible on the surface of the moon any object exceeding nine feet in diameter.

On October 20 of the previous year, the subscription had closed. The president of the Gun Club then provided the Observatory of Cambridge with the funds to build a gigantic optical instrument. It was designed to make any object over nine feet in diameter visible on the surface of the moon.

At the period when the Gun Club essayed their great experiment, such instruments had reached a high degree of perfection, and produced some magnificent results. Two telescopes in particular, at this time, were possessed of remarkable power and of gigantic dimensions. The first, constructed by Herschel, was thirty-six feet in length, and had an object-glass of four feet six inches; it possessed a magnifying power of 6,000. The second was raised in Ireland, in Parsonstown Park, and belongs to Lord Rosse. The length of this tube is forty-eight feet, and the diameter of its object-glass six feet; it magnifies 6,400 times, and required an immense erection of brick work and masonry for the purpose of working it, its weight being twelve and a half tons.

When the Gun Club attempted its great experiment, telescopes had reached a high degree of perfection and produced magnificent results. Two telescopes in particular were remarkably powerful and enormous. The first, built by Herschel, was thirty-six feet long and had an object-glass four feet six inches across. It had a magnifying power of 6,000. The second was built in Ireland, in Parsonstown Park, and belonged to Lord Rosse. Its tube was forty-eight feet long, and its object-glass was six feet across. It magnified 6,400 times. Because it weighed twelve and a half tons, an immense structure of brick and masonry was needed to operate it.

Still, despite these colossal dimensions, the actual enlargements scarcely exceeded 6,000 times in round numbers; consequently, the moon was brought within no nearer an apparent distance than thirty-nine miles; and objects of less than sixty feet in diameter, unless they were of very considerable length, were still imperceptible.

Still, despite these enormous dimensions, the magnification was barely more than 6,000 times in round numbers. So the moon appeared to be no closer than thirty-nine miles away. Objects less than sixty feet across were still invisible unless they were very long.

In the present case, dealing with a projectile nine feet in diameter and fifteen feet long, it became necessary to bring the moon within an apparent distance of five miles at most; and for that purpose to establish a magnifying power of 48,000 times.

In this case, the projectile was nine feet in diameter and fifteen feet long. The moon had to appear no more than five miles away. To achieve this, a magnifying power of 48,000 times was needed.

Such was the question proposed to the Observatory of Cambridge, There was no lack of funds; the difficulty was purely one of construction.

That was the question put to the Observatory of Cambridge. There was plenty of money. The only difficulty was construction.

After considerable discussion as to the best form and principle of the proposed instrument the work was finally commenced. According to the calculations of the Observatory of Cambridge, the tube of the new reflector would require to be 280 feet in length, and the object-glass sixteen feet in diameter. Colossal as these dimensions may appear, they were diminutive in comparison with the 10,000 foot telescope proposed by the astronomer Hooke only a few years ago!

After much discussion about the best design and operating principle for the proposed instrument, work finally began. According to calculations by the Observatory of Cambridge, the new reflector’s tube would need to be 280 feet long. Its object-glass would need to be sixteen feet across. These dimensions may seem enormous, but they were tiny compared with the 10,000 foot telescope proposed by the astronomer Hooke only a few years ago!

Regarding the choice of locality, that matter was promptly determined. The object was to select some lofty mountain, and there are not many of these in the United States. In fact there are but two chains of moderate elevation, between which runs the magnificent Mississippi, the “king of rivers” as these Republican Yankees delight to call it.

The location was quickly settled. The aim was to choose a high mountain, and there are not many in the United States. In fact, there are only two mountain ranges of moderate height. Between them flows the magnificent Mississippi, the “king of rivers” as these Republican Yankees love to call it.

Eastwards rise the Appalachians, the very highest point of which, in New Hampshire, does not exceed the very moderate altitude of 5,600 feet.

To the east rise the Appalachians. Their highest point, in New Hampshire, reaches no more than a modest 5,600 feet.

On the west, however, rise the Rocky Mountains, that immense range which, commencing at the Straights of Magellan, follows the western coast of Southern America under the name of the Andes or the Cordilleras, until it crosses the Isthmus of Panama, and runs up the whole of North America to the very borders of the Polar Sea. The highest elevation of this range still does not exceed 10,700 feet. With this elevation, nevertheless, the Gun Club were compelled to be content, inasmuch as they had determined that both telescope and Columbiad should be erected within the limits of the Union. All the necessary apparatus was consequently sent on to the summit of Long’s Peak, in the territory of Missouri.

To the west, however, rise the Rocky Mountains, an immense range that begins at the Straights of Magellan. Known as the Andes or the Cordilleras, it follows the western coast of South America to the Isthmus of Panama. From there, it crosses the isthmus and runs through North America to the very borders of the Polar Sea. The highest point in the range, however, is no more than 10,700 feet. Even so, the Gun Club had to be content with that height. They had decided to build both the telescope and the Columbiad within the limits of the Union. All the necessary equipment was therefore sent to the summit of Long’s Peak, in the territory of Missouri.

Neither pen nor language can describe the difficulties of all kinds which the American engineers had to surmount, of the prodigies of daring and skill which they accomplished. They had to raise enormous stones, massive pieces of wrought iron, heavy corner-clamps and huge portions of cylinder, with an object-glass weighing nearly 30,000 pounds, above the line of perpetual snow for more than 10,000 feet in height, after crossing desert prairies, impenetrable forests, fearful rapids, far from all centers of population, and in the midst of savage regions, in which every detail of life becomes an almost insoluble problem. And yet, notwithstanding these innumerable obstacles, American genius triumphed. In less than a year after the commencement of the works, toward the close of September, the gigantic reflector rose into the air to a height of 280 feet. It was raised by means of an enormous iron crane; an ingenious mechanism allowed it to be easily worked toward all the points of the heavens, and to follow the stars from the one horizon to the other during their journey through the heavens.

No words can describe all the difficulties the American engineers had to overcome, or their astonishing feats of daring and skill. They had to transport enormous stones, massive pieces of wrought iron, heavy corner clamps, and huge sections of cylinder. They also carried an object-glass weighing nearly 30,000 pounds. They crossed deserted prairies, impenetrable forests, and terrifying rapids. Then they had to lift everything above the permanent snow line, more than 10,000 feet up. They worked far from all centers of population, amid savage regions where every detail of life becomes an almost impossible problem. Yet despite these countless obstacles, American genius triumphed. In less than a year after work began, toward the end of September, the gigantic reflector rose 280 feet into the air. An enormous iron crane lifted it into place. An ingenious mechanism made the reflector easy to aim at any point in the sky. It could follow the stars from one horizon to the other as they traveled across the heavens.

It had cost $400,000. The first time it was directed toward the moon the observers evinced both curiosity and anxiety. What were they about to discover in the field of this telescope which magnified objects 48,000 times? Would they perceive peoples, herds of lunar animals, towns, lakes, seas? No! there was nothing which science had not already discovered! and on all the points of its disc the volcanic nature of the moon became determinable with the utmost precision.

It had cost $400,000. The first time it was pointed at the moon, the observers were both curious and anxious. What would they discover through this telescope, which magnified objects 48,000 times? Would they see peoples, herds of lunar animals, towns, lakes, or seas? No! There was nothing that science had not already discovered! But across the entire disc, the moon's volcanic nature could be determined with the utmost precision.

But the telescope of the Rocky Mountains, before doing its duty to the Gun Club, rendered immense services to astronomy. Thanks to its penetrative power, the depths of the heavens were sounded to the utmost extent; the apparent diameter of a great number of stars was accurately measured; and Mr. Clark, of the Cambridge staff, resolved the Crab nebula in Taurus, which the reflector of Lord Rosse had never been able to decompose.

But before serving the Gun Club, the Rocky Mountains telescope made an immense contribution to astronomy. Its powerful lens allowed astronomers to explore the depths of the heavens as far as possible. They accurately measured the apparent diameter of many stars. Mr. Clark, of the Cambridge staff, resolved the Crab nebula in Taurus into individual stars. Lord Rosse's reflecting telescope had never been able to do that.