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ProfDelphiniusTucker
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« on: October 22, 2007, 04:30:02 pm » |
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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?
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Professor Delphinius S. Tucker
Professor of Technological Masteries, Religion, and History.
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Atterton
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« Reply #1 on: October 22, 2007, 04:34:06 pm » |
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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.
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In space, no one can hear you steam.
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Dr von Zarkov
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« Reply #3 on: October 22, 2007, 06:16:19 pm » |
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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.
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"The fact that I wear the protective coloration of sedate citizenship is a ruse of the fox — I learned it long ago."
– Loren Eiseley
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HAC
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« Reply #4 on: October 22, 2007, 07:03:18 pm » |
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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 |
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You never know what lonesome is , 'til you get to herdin' cows.
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Sir Newt Sixsmith
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« Reply #5 on: October 23, 2007, 12:05:50 am » |
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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.
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Never underestimate the advantages of top hats.
Never underestimate the value of a good cape.
Always overestimate the hero. That goes double if he has a sidekick, triple if it is a monkey.
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Dr von Zarkov
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« Reply #6 on: October 23, 2007, 12:28:50 am » |
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Sir Sixsmith,
Was this "clunky" device perchance an armillary sphere?
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Angus D. Murphy
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« Reply #7 on: October 23, 2007, 12:33:52 am » |
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An Orrery, maybe?
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What's the good of having mastery over cosmic balance and knowing the secrets of fate if you can't blow something up?
-Sir Terry Pratchett
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Sir Newt Sixsmith
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« Reply #8 on: October 23, 2007, 12:37:21 am » |
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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). |
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Sir Newt Sixsmith
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« Reply #9 on: October 23, 2007, 01:01:30 am » |
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Found it! Hope this works, I haven't posted a picture or link here yet... A picture.  Youtube (it's only breifly shown).
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Vienna Fahrmann
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« Reply #10 on: October 23, 2007, 01:43:45 am » |
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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
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AFGNCAAP
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« Reply #11 on: October 24, 2007, 04:24:25 am » |
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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! |
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"An eruption!" I said. "We're in the chimney of an active volcano?"
"I think so," said the professor smiling, "and that's the best thing that could happen to us!"
-Journey to the Center of the Earth
"The way to my heart is through my chest, with a scalpel and a bone saw."
-Lady Anne
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qubehead
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« Reply #12 on: October 25, 2007, 02:43:07 pm » |
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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. |
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Dax
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« Reply #14 on: October 28, 2007, 04:49:15 pm » |
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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.
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Blackadder: A man may fight for many things. His country, his friends, his principles, the glistening tear on the cheek of a golden child. But personally, I'd mud-wrestle my own mother for a ton of cash, an amusing clock and a sack of French porn.
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Von Gast
Rogue Ætherlord
 United Kingdom
Gentleman Racer and Explorer
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« Reply #15 on: October 28, 2007, 07:55:25 pm » |
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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... |
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SteampunkBuilder
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« Reply #16 on: October 29, 2007, 03:37:44 am » |
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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 |
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AFGNCAAP
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« Reply #17 on: October 29, 2007, 04:40:00 am » |
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Picture saved; this will be useful to me, especially as an opportunity to have fun with less-than-dependable light sources as the sun. |
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SteampunkBuilder
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« Reply #18 on: October 29, 2007, 09:04:00 pm » |
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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... |
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AFGNCAAP
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« Reply #19 on: October 30, 2007, 01:36:29 am » |
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I'm devising the best comic timing for someone to blow out the candle.
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Sir Newt Sixsmith
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« Reply #20 on: November 03, 2007, 08:53:27 pm » |
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How delightful, thank you for clearing that up. |
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Wrath the Mad
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« Reply #21 on: November 04, 2007, 11:33:21 am » |
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If the more modern sextant isn't to your liking, mayhaps an Astrolabe will suit your fancy? 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* |
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« Last Edit: November 04, 2007, 11:38:14 am by Wrath the Mad »
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"It works!" -BOOM- "Ah... heh... Uhm, it's not supposed to do that..."
Less is NOT more... Ludwig Mies van der Rohe was just a cheapskate!
Back off. I'm doing Science! (Being resized) ^^
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von Brasswood
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« Reply #22 on: November 04, 2007, 01:48:10 pm » |
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Oh, dear.. That is beautiful..
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"Steam punk is like a top hat: You can watch it from different angles and enjoy different things about it, and there are no single hat that fits everyones head."
- vonB
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Professor Lidenbrock
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« Reply #23 on: November 04, 2007, 02:03:27 pm » |
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It is indeed beautiful. Those who can see that may like this site http://astrolabes.org/ |
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"Through the ruins of a city stalked the ruin of a man."
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Sebastian Gaunt
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« Reply #24 on: November 04, 2007, 04:02:40 pm » |
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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!!!
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"The fastest way to travel is by Gaslight"
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