Astronomy

[ProfDelphiniusTucker]

With the right materials, I think that astronomy could be a necessity for the steampunk gentleman/lady. It would be useful for navigation of the Æthership or other random activities. Or, simply a hobby. Anyhow, does anyone else think this?

[Atterton]

How many on here really do have aetherships? Astronomy is fun though. Incidentally do anyone know any 1800s theories on the origin of the universe? Big Bang and Steady State are both rather recent.

[markf]

Here are some telescopes by Normand Fullum of Canada, they might fit right into that environment.  markf

http://www.normandfullumtelescopes.com/index.html

http://www.normandfullumtelescopes.com/pages_e/projects.htm

[Dr von Zarkov]

As a gentleman-scientist, I take no small pleasure in maintaining custody of an Alvan Clarke (1894) refractor. It is situated, at present, in the cupola of our residence. My rural environs are relatively free of artificial light, permitting observations without hindrance of urban glow.

[HAC]

As a gentleman-scientist, I take no small pleasure in maintaining custody of an Alvan Clarke (1894) refractor. It is situated, at present, in the cupola of our residence. My rural environs are relatively free of artificial light, permitting observations without hindrance of urban glow.

Ah, nice...
I have an Orion short tube 80mm refractor. I have to use a light pollution filters (usually a broadband, but sometimes I have to dig out the narrowband one..) Don't use it as much as I used to, but with an image corrector it makes a great spotting scope..

Cheers
Harold

[Sir Newt Sixsmith]

There was a scene in a film called The Dark Crystal that had a rather steampunk like planetary model thing (it was on a fictional world, so it wasn't a model of our solar system). It was a big clunking metal thing that would probably only fit in the largest of Victorian observatories.

[Dr von Zarkov]

Sir Sixsmith,
Was this "clunky" device perchance an armillary sphere?

[Angus D. Murphy]

An Orrery, maybe?

[Sir Newt Sixsmith]

Sir Sixsmith,
Was this "clunky" device perchance an armillary sphere?

I'm not really sure what that is. It was like a giant, clockwork version of those model solar systems you have to make in elementary school. I'll see if I can find a picture or youtube link of the scene, I'll post it as soon as I find it. It was a Jim Henson movie, perhaps his best(certainly my favorite).

[Sir Newt Sixsmith]

Found it!
Hope this works, I haven't posted a picture or link here yet...
A picture.

Youtube (it's only breifly shown).

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzgVPB5dpgg

[Vienna Fahrmann]

     Dear Mr. Tucker,

     My husband would probably agree with you.  He's an astronomy buff.  When we visited England together, we went to the old Observatory at Greenwich.

     Vienna

[AFGNCAAP]

First the space topic, and now this...such usefulness! Such wonderful timing! At this time, I am editing (okay, re-editing...okay, re-re-re-re-re-editing) a poor, editor-scorched steampunk book in which astronomy is very heavily involved. Thank you all for the inadvertent help.  A necessity indeed!

[qubehead]

Found it!
Hope this works, I haven't posted a picture or link here yet...
A picture.

Youtube (it's only breifly shown).
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzgVPB5dpgg

Now *that* is one ueber-nifty...umm... thing. I want one!! -Not really apropos, but does anyone know when the Crooke's Radiometer was invented? -the lightbulbish gizmo with the propeller inside that spins when you hold it up to the light.

[Von Gast]

I have one of thesehttp://www.celestron.uk.com/catalogues/view_item.asp?ItemID=30583&CatalogueID=272&CategoryID=3762 in short tube form - not particularly steampunk but a pretty good telescope. Just saving for one of their top of the range eyepieces with the larger field of view, as wearing glasses makes it rather difficult to use the standard high magnification ones.

[Dax]

If anyone is interested, there is presently a comet visible in the northeast night sky (northern hemisphere).  Appropriately for us, it is named Comet Holmes.

I believe it is in Perseus - at 2100 Eastern Time it will be more or less midway between Cassiopeia (the northern constellation that looks like a letter W), and the moon.  To the naked eye, it will appear to be a somewhat fuzzy star.  I think I might haul out the old celestron refractor and have a look.

[Von Gast]

If anyone is interested, there is presently a comet visible in the northeast night sky (northern hemisphere).  Appropriately for us, it is named Comet Holmes.

I believe it is in Perseus - at 2100 Eastern Time it will be more or less midway between Cassiopeia (the northern constellation that looks like a letter W), and the moon.  To the naked eye, it will appear to be a somewhat fuzzy star.  I think I might haul out the old celestron refractor and have a look.

You win again light pollution!

I'm now torn. Model trains or a new super-spiffy Celestron eyepiece. The former are a better bet for cold wet evenings, the latter will make my telescope even better...

[SteampunkBuilder]

Sir Sixsmith,
Was this "clunky" device perchance an armillary sphere?

I'm not really sure what that is. It was like a giant, clockwork version of those model solar systems you have to make in elementary school. I'll see if I can find a picture or youtube link of the scene, I'll post it as soon as I find it. It was a Jim Henson movie, perhaps his best(certainly my favorite).

The Victorian version is called a Tellurium...

http://www.arsmachina.com/g-tellurium4068.htm

...but is also called a Planetarium.

http://www.arsmachina.com/g-laings4080.htm

[AFGNCAAP]

The Victorian version is called a Tellurium...

http://www.arsmachina.com/g-tellurium4068.htm

Picture saved; this will be useful to me, especially as an opportunity to have fun with less-than-dependable light sources as the sun.

[SteampunkBuilder]

The Victorian version is called a Tellurium...

Picture saved; this will be useful to me, especially as an opportunity to have fun with less-than-dependable light sources as the sun.

Glad you like it.  I have often thought that it resembles everyone on Earth having a giant marshmallow roast...

[AFGNCAAP]

I'm devising the best comic timing for someone to blow out the candle.

[Sir Newt Sixsmith]

The Victorian version is called a Tellurium...

http://www.arsmachina.com/g-tellurium4068.htm

...but is also called a Planetarium.

http://www.arsmachina.com/g-laings4080.htm

How delightful, thank you for clearing that up.

[Wrath the Mad]

If the more modern sextant isn't to your liking, mayhaps an Astrolabe will suit your fancy?

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

Spoiler (click to show/hide)

For particulars on it's operation, google (goggle?) "Chaucer's Treatise on the Astrolabe". A bit of a challenging read for someone used to modern writing. (ca 1391)

That's my idea book it's chained to. Now y'all know what to have your henchmen steal next time they break into my lab. *taps a sign into the front yard that says "Trespassers will be violated!"* Time to test the Tresspass-Intruder! Ah, nevermind! There's no such device! *inches in front of a control panel*

[von Brasswood]

Oh, dear.. That is beautiful..

[Professor Lidenbrock]

It is indeed beautiful. Those who can see that may like this site http://astrolabes.org/

[Sebastian Gaunt]

As Mr Angus D. Murphy so rightly says, the 'big clunky thing' is in fact an Orrerey. I am a big Dark Crystal fan and have a few books on it, and that is the word they use. And I want one!!!