New Telescope at the Observatory.

The Common 60-inch reflecting telescope, which was recently purchased by the University, has been received and is now being set up in the eastern part of the Observatory grounds, near Bond street. The telescope was made in 1888 by the late A. A. Common, and set up at Ealing, England. On account of the great weight of the instrument, about 19 tons, a peculiar mounting has been necessary. A new tube 21 feet long with a 60-inch aperture is being made and much of the old clock work and appliances will be changed for new ones operated by electricity. The reflecting lens is about 6 inches thick and weighs, with its cell, about a ton. The focal length is 28 1-2 feet. This gives an image upon a scale of 6 inches for a degree. The whole instrument will be covered by a moveable wooden shelter connected with a frame building, the upper floor of which is the observing room, the lower floor the silvering room. This telescope will be used principally for the observation of very distant stars.