338 



Star Following. 



STAR FOLLOWING. 



BY REV. E. L. BERTHON, M.A. 



In the Intellectual Observer for May (No. xxviii. p. 290), 

 a description is given of convenient methods of following the 

 heavenly bodies in their apparent courses, "with a telescope 

 mounted on a new table-stand ; but as the woodcut necessary 

 to make it intelligible was accidentally omitted, the object of 

 these few lines is to supply that deficiency ; and the accom- 

 panying illustration is to be understood as belonging to that 

 description. 



The reader is also requested to refer to the Intellectual 

 Observer for November, 1863, No. xxii. p. 283, for a drawing 

 and specification of the stand, to which these recent improve- 

 ments are added. 



The writer further embraces this opportunity of offering a 

 few remarks upon the advantages of good stands for astrono- 

 mical telescopes. 



Although equatoreals are becoming daily more common, 

 they will never, for obvious reasons, entirely supersede those 

 possessing horizontal and vertical motions; and to combine 

 these two movements together to produce an even course with- 

 out vibrations, or a succession of jerks, is a considerable step 

 in the improvement of table-stands and in increasing the effec- 

 of the optical instrument so mounted, and the com- 

 fort enjoyed in its use. 



The two chief desiderata in a stand are — 



l.i. That it be steady and free from vibrations. 



2nd. That the least possible exertion bo required to set and 



