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INSIDE VIEW.
TELESCOPIC WORK
FOR
STARLIGHT EVENINGS.
BY
WILLIAM F. DENNING, F.R.A.S.
(FORMERLY PRESIDENT OF THE LIVERPOOL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY).
LONDON:
TAYLOR AND FRANCIS, RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
1891.
[All rights reserved.]
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PRINTED BY TAYLOR AND FRANCIS,
RED LION COURT, FLEET STREET.
iii
PREFACE.
It having been suggested by some kind friends thata series of articles on “Telescopes and TelescopicWork,” which I wrote for the ‘Journal of theLiverpool Astronomical Society’ in 1887-8, shouldbe reprinted, I have undertaken the revision and rearrangementof the papers alluded to. Certain othercontributions on “Large and Small Telescopes,”“Planetary Observations,” and kindred subjects,which I furnished to ‘The Observatory’ and otherscientific serials from time to time, have also beenincluded, and the material so much altered andextended that it may be regarded as virtually newmatter. The work has outgrown my original intention,but it proved so engrossing that it was founddifficult to ensure greater brevity.
The combination of different papers has possiblyhad the effect of rendering the book more popular insome parts than in others. This is not altogetherunintentional, for the aim has been to make the workintelligible to general readers, while also containingivfacts and figures useful to amateur astronomers. Itis merely intended as a contribution to popular astronomy,and asserts no rivalry with existing works, manyof which are essentially different in plan. If anyexcuse were, however, needed for the issue of thisvolume it might be found in the rapid progress ofastronomy, which requires that new or revised worksshould be published at short intervals in order torepresent existing knowledge.
The methods explained are approximate, and technicalpoints have been avoided with the view toengage the interest of beginners who may find it thestepping-stone to more advanced works and to moreprecise methods. The object will be realized ifobservers derive any encouragement from its descriptionsor value from its references, and the authorsincerely hopes that not a few of his readers willexperience the same degree of pleasure in observationas he has done during many years.
No matter how humble the observer, or howpaltry the telescope, astronomy is capable of furnishingan endless store of delight to its adherents.