32 replies to this topic

[Terra Nova]

Hi David, I have a similar interest as you.  My personal recommendations are these:

 

Your 19th century observing guide: "Celestial objects for common telescopes", by Thomas W. Webb (1859).  This book is free on internet (Google) but you can find hard copies a low cost, I use a 1962 from Dover Publications.

 

Historical books, just two to get started:

• "The Victorian Amateur Astronomer", by Allan Chapman.  You can find it used in Ebay, some copies for as low as $40.
• "Dante and the Early Astronomer: Science, Adventure, and a Victorian Woman Who Opened the Heavens", by Tracy Daugherty.  You will love this book.  It is available in Amazon ($29)

Telescope: Thomas Webb used for the most part of his book a 90mm achromat.  The typical amateur 19th century score was the achromat (2 - 3 inches aperture).  I would not recommend you a replica, unless you want a decorative telescope.  But, there are very good long achromats in the market that you can use to reproduce 19th century astronomical observing, like these:

• Takahashi Starbase 80 - 80mm f/10 Achromatic Telescope ($690, including Alt-azimuth Mount and Tripod, and 2 orthoscopic eyepieces).
• Vixen A80Mf Porta II ($729), a 80mm f/11 achromat.  It includes the porta II mount, that you can use later if you want to upgrade your telescope to an ED, Apo refractor, or even a 130mm Newtonian.  I would recommend this scope.

I think with any of these scopes, and the books I mentioned, you will enjoy 19 century astronomy using similar (and better) instruments as they did in the past.

Enjoy!

 

PS. I am sorry, I forgot another great observing guide for beginners: "In starland with a three-inch telescope", by William Tyler Olcott (1909).  This is also available for free in the web, also in Amazon (reprints), and if you are lucky, you can find original editions in Ebay.  I would start with this guide first, and then Thomas Webb's book.  

These are excellent reading references for you. I've had both volumes of Webb (Dover edition) since ai started this hobby nearly sixty years ago, (yes, I'm an antique ). I would also recommend an older edition of the Norton's Star Atlas and Telescopic Handbook. It was first written over a hundred years ago and is very old school.

 

https://www.amazon.c...,aps,136&sr=8-6

Edited by Terra Nova, 25 July 2024 - 03:08 PM.

[dirk moons]

Hi David

I am Dirk Moons

i collect Antique scientific instruments also tellescopes SEE    My Antique telescopes  somwhere in this topic

 i live in Belgium so i speak Englisch but not good also cumputers is not my thing

IF you like orignal antique instruments there are auctions in the usa  where you can find real old sexstants not expensive 

I think ELDERS AUCTIONS has good sales

REGARDS

dirk moons

[dirk moons]

SORY David

It iS  ELDRED S AUCTIONS MARINE SALES often have good cheap old sextants ( +/- 100 dollars)

[Weisswurst Josef]

Hello David, you are wellcome!

 

That`s a fine and cool idea.
And I understand very well that you want an ancient looking telescope.

You asked about the telescope in the link.
The short answer: I would definitly NOT recommend it.

 
The reasons:

 

This indian-made telescopes are made for looking at.

You would be disappointed about it`s very poor optical quality.

Looking through it will be like looking through a tunnel.

And may be looking through a tunnel would provide you a better view.

Not worth the money.

 

It has 42 mm aperture (this is the diameter of the front lens).
You would be disappointetd how small this telescope is.

Also not worth the money.

 

A third thing is that it does not look like a historic instrument.

Historic refractors looked much simplier.

 

 

What to do? A simple answer ist difficult to give.

 

If you have some craftsmanship there would be the possibility to buy a refractor that`s a few decades old.

The older, the better. And then give it a historic look.

An aperture of 60 mm will give you lot`s of fun not expanding the budget.

Leaving money for some better old eyepieces.
 

Hope this helps you just a little bit.

If you have any further questions feel free to answer.

 

Regards,

Andreas

 

 

PS

There have been brass-refrators from Celestron / Orion. 60 mm and 80 mm aperture.

Just they might expand the budget even if bought used. If there ever apears one on the market.

 

 

[PJ Anway]

Being interested in the 1800's has one big advantage, in that reprint of books from that period are available now for very reasonable prices.

My favorite 1800's book is: "A Handbook of Double Stars" by E. Crossley, J. Gledhill and J.M. Wilson.

464 pages and the first 150 describe the methods and equipment used back then. The rest is a comprehensive catalog of double stars with

detailed descriptions of many of the discoveries.

I have an original copy from 1879, but you can pick up a reprint from AbeBooks for less than $30.

 

 

Edited by PJ Anway, 13 August 2024 - 06:38 AM.

[John Higbee]

Hi, David - if you want to get to another of the "foundational works" of astronomy, first published in 1844, try this one:

 

A Cycle of Celestial Objects, by William Henry Smyth, Admiral, Royal Navy

 

 

690 pages of observations dating back to the late 18th century, and descriptions provided in what I would call "formal English"...this is how they observed and recorded astronomical objects in the time frame you're interested in.

 

You can get reprints of this book for a few dollars on the internet.

 

Good Luck!  John

[PJ Anway]

Hi, David - if you want to get to another of the "foundational works" of astronomy, first published in 1844, try this one:

 

A Cycle of Celestial Objects, by William Henry Smyth, Admiral, Royal Navy

Another great suggestion! Also known as "The Bedford Catalogue"

William-Bell reprinted it in 1986 with a forward by George Lovi. I purchased it then. Just a great book!

 

[CarolinaBanker]

The “average” amateur would have used a small 50-80mm slow (f/10-20) achromatic refractors or slow 70-150mm reflectors. Eyepieces were simple with Kellners representing the better end of eyepiece, despite Plossls and Abbe Orthos being invented in the nineteenth century they do not appear to be common. Mostly it would be Huygens and Ramsdens. Both equatorial and alt as mounts existed.

Here is the John Brashear catalog which is broadly indicative of what an amateur could buy at the turn of the century. https://wiki.telesco...y,_LTD_Catalogs