Writing an email today to an interested party I found myself running over the evidence that Spinoza used either a hand driven lens-grinding lathe, or one of the springpole variety, such as the Hevelius lathe (Selenographia, 1647). It seemed best to briefly summarize them hear, as though the evidence is scant, it is not non-existent. I have already written briefly on these two lathes here: Spinoza’s Grinding Lathe: An Extended Hypothesis ; Spinoza’s “Spring Pole” Lathe: Experience to Metaphysics and Back

1. The auction of Spinoza's estate held half a year after his death, accounts for more than one "mill" (mollens). If such mollens are taken to be grinding lathes, it shows that he had more than one, likely for more than one purpose (telescope/microscope; grinding/polishing). It is also very possible that the estate had already lost a number of its items by the time of the auction.

2. Spinoza is generally assumed to have been tubercular. While in remission the disease may not inhibit the stenuousness of activity, when manifest any grinding lathe that would greatly reduce exertion would seem almost necessary. A springpole lathe frees the hands, and allows the larger leg muscles to bear the burden.

3. There is some evidence that Spinoza did work on larger telescope objective lenses, ones that would require heavier iron grinding forms, less conducive to a hand-driven lathe. For instance, Huygens writes his brother in reference to calculations for a 40 ft. lens (in collaboration with J. Hudde), and ten years after Spinoza's death, the Constantijn Huygens writes of using a 42 ft. Spinoza grinding form (I have not read the primary source on this).

4.Christiaan Huygens at several points in his letters to his brother refers to Spinoza's championing of small spherical lenses for microscopes. If these are not unground spherical bead-drop lenses, then these would be the kind that required very precise grinding and polishing. One can certainly imagine that hand-driven grinding lathes would be more suitable for this kind of work.

This rough sketch seems to suggest a combination of grinding and polishing lathes were used. Spinoza in his criticism of Huygens' semi-automated grinding lathes, and artisan concern for basic tried techniques, does strongly advise that whatever Spinoza's lathe designs, they were of a simple, efficient design. He did not appreciate speculative mechanical experimentation, at least not for its own sake. One imagines that his springpole- and/or hand- lathe was of a tried and true fundamental design, though from Huygens's comments on Spinoza's polishing techniques, it does appear that he possessed distinctive techniques which were either discovered by himself as a inventive craftsman, or were from a source not commonly available to others.

The new Pin, a Microscope, can be found in the Sports Shop.

The new play, Space Adventure: Planet Y, is awesome! It has cool features that you can use/change with the Switchbox 3000.

Together with the Stage there's also a cool script and catalog released together with it. No secrets (so far, I've found)!
But a cool Background for members and non-members will do!

When you check out the Telescope at the Beacon (Lighthouse), you'll see that Club Penguin's favorite pirate is coming soon. I think next Friday!

Also, check your CP Inbox, 'cause G has send you a postcard in secret penguin code. Once translated you'll read that he needs you for a secret mission, Operation: Spy & Seek. Of course lots of penguins have already completed this mission. For a tutorial, click here. See the image below for the translation.

-Jellyboard

From some of the amazing photos the Hubble has taken, I can't imagine what else it out there for us to find; though, I can't wait to find out!

A speedy update on last week's list- all done except the super 8 film.

This week's list:

1. Managing a PhD 2nd intensive day (Thursday)

2. Meet Fiona Wright (Monday- done)

3. Meet Alan Smith, Allenheads Contemporary Arts (Monday- done)

4. Look at calls for papers for 'Per Speculum in Mediaevum', University of Pennsylvania (14 Nov) and 'Disturbing Spaces, Impossible Strategies', for parallax publication Leeds (1 April 09).

5. Proposal for South Square Gallery, Bradford (10 Oct)

6. Super 8 film as previous.

7. Notes on 'Eyes, Lies and Illusions'.

8. Teach Mum how to make a curry (Friday)

It's been a bit of a strange time in the studio. Mostly, I'm doing work for Connecting Principle, so it's not proper studio stuff. Most of this will be sorted within the next two weeks. I've milled around a little, calling on various people, including Annie O'Donnell who gave me tea in fabulous formal ornate 70s coffee cups. I've ordered the copper for my prints, (£68) so I suppose I should decide on the image.  I'm not sure why I feel so lethargic. I still haven't moved everything in the studio to make way for my proposed new arrangement. I need to do something this afternoon so that I can get the super 8 film shot tomorrow. I think it will work really well. I missed my appointment with Mick on Tuesday, which is a bit annoying, but the last 2 weeks have been like that. I think I'm missing having a deadline, which is foolish of me. I talked to R last night about his doctorate, and how he went about the first month or so- he set up an exhibition for himself to work towards. I talked about doing something a bit like the moveable arrangements of resources shown in WW2 movies (you know the bits, where they move model ships or troops from one spot to another).

Failures- I didn't make Catrin Huber's post-British School At Rome show 'Hairchitecture' private view, cause I was feeling ill. So I also missed the Bartlett Travel Award Show (I won a Bartlett award in 2007).

But I did get myself up to Allenheads to ACA, and met Allan and Helen who run it, together with their current residents Hannah and Sophie. I think it would be an interesting place to make work- I noted their substantial telescope. I really liked the organisational area with all the planning tools, and Allan and Helen's adorable dog Messer (sp?). Allan is showing a piece in Connecting Principle, and I really enjoyed watching it and having the space to discuss it. And it was fantastically sunny.

On the 2nd October 1608, the Dutch lens maker Hans Lippershey demonstrated the first practical telescope to the Dutch parliament. He is thought to have been the first to try and patent the invention, which could provide the user with roughly three times magnification. (However, legend has it that Lippershey got the idea after seeing some children playing around with his lenses in a telescopic fashion...)

50 YEARS AGO THIS MONTH

On the 11th October 1958, Pioneer 1 became the first spacecraft to be launched by NASA. The mission objective was to study the radiation, magnetic fields, and micrometeorites of the Earth/Moon environment, but due to a malfunction at launch it never acheived its intended lunar orbit. It did reach an altitude of nearly 114,000km above the Earth though and was the most successful of the early "Thor-Able" craft.

A cool virtual way to play with a telescope is to download the free World Wide Telescope from Microsoft.  It allows you to learn the sky and see collections of astronomical photographs at the same time.

Finally, as a way to show your appreciation to astronomy and help bring back the sense of wonder of the night sky, take a look at the International Dark-Sky Association.  One reason why you may never have wanted to use a telescope is because most people never see the stars anymore.  Treat yourself someday.  Take a vacation where you can find natural dark skies.  Look up.  You will be amazed.

• The Telescope: 400 Years and Counting - Wired Magazine article by Michio Kaku
• 400 Years of the Telescope - an upcoming documentary
• The International Year of Astronomy - a year long celebration to commemorate the invention of the telescope

JWH - 9-5-8

Maybe you are sure that you want to buy a telescope or maybe you are just considering the idea, but either way you are surely wondering what the average buy a telescope cost is. Especially to the new ones to the world of telescopes, you can’t imagine ever being able to afford one yourself, but they are not all as expensive as you may think, and you actually probably can afford the average buy a telescope cost. Read further  Buy a Telescope Cost

If you are interested in getting a telescope, of course you want to know how to buy a good telescope. Especially because telescopes usually cost quite a bit of money, you want to ensure that your money is going to be well spent and this means putting a great deal of time and effort into the process. Read further  Buy a Good Telescope

So maybe you already know what you are looking for in a telescope but you just don’t know where to buy a telescope. In this case, you should be aware that there are actually quite a few different worthwhile options available to you here. If you want to know where to buy a telescope, here are a few of the best retailers you can visit. Read further  Where to Buy a Telescope

the telescope is at MAGE BARROW. 

play a game of flash cards and you'll get 250 COINS.... again xD

~moochi

You get 250 coins

Σαν σήμερα, 2 Οκτωβρίου του 1608, κρατικοί υπάλληλοι  στην Ολλανδία επεξεργάζονταν μια αίτηση για πατέντα, απο έναν οπτικό ονόματι Hans Lippershey που αφορούσε ενα όργανο με το οποίο κάποιος "μπορούσε να δεί αντικείμενα που βρίσκονταν πολυ μακρυά, σαν να ήταν πολύ κοντά". Αυτή είναι και η πρώτη γνωστή καταγραφή για το τηλεσκόπιο. Μερικούς μήνες αργότερα ενα τέτοιο εργαλείο θα έφτανε στα χέρια του Γαλιλαίου και η ανθρωπότητα δεν θα ήταν ποτέ η ίδια...

Η φωτό είναι απο εξόρμηση στα Πετροκέρασα

On October 2, 1608, 400 years ago today, Hans Lipperhey applied for a patent for a "certain instrument to see far"--in other words, a telescope.  Hans was a German lens maker, living in the Netherlands.  Legend says that 2 children entered his workshop and played with a couple of lenses.  They held them apart and looked at a weathervane through them.  It appeared closer.  Lipperhey noticed, enclosed the lenses in a lead tube, and the telescope was born.

Lipperhey never received the patent, but he did make several telescopes for the government.  A year later, Galileo Galilei heard of the invention, made a telescope of his own, and saw craters on the moon, the moons of Jupiter, and the stars of the Milky Way.

Because of the playfulness and the wonder of two children, our understanding of the universe has never been the same.

(Amélie Daoust-Boisvert, (Agence Science-Presse) — La théorie de la relativité d’Einstein le prédisait, mais pour la première fois les observations du télescope Chandra de la NASA le confirment : les imposants trous noirs super massifs et les petits trous noirs stellaires (environ dix masses solaires) se nourrissent de la même manière. C’est en observant l’immense trou noir super massif de 70 millions de fois la masse du Soleil, au centre la galaxie M81, que Sera Markoff et ses collègues ont sorti ces données de l’ombre. Ces révélations stellaires attestent que les trous noirs sont d’une grande simplicité, et s'alimentent de la même manière, immenses ou petits. Les scientifiques espèrent utiliser cette trouvaille pour faire la lumière sur les hypothétiques trous noirs intermédiaires, des corps célestes de quelques milliers de masses solaires dont l’existence n’a toujours pas été prouvée à ce jour.

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L’amour en 3 dimensions. Roman de cheminement humoristique. Pour dédramatiser les événements qui nous ont bouleversés. Pour mieux comprendre notre relation envers soi, notre entourage et notre environnement. Peut être lu pour le plaisir d’un roman ou dans un objectif de croissance personnelle.

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Everyone should learn a bit of information on how to buy a telescope before heading out and attempting to do it on their own. It may seem like a relatively easy item to shop for, but once you get out there you will see the multitude of different makes and models that are available to you and you will no doubt become confused and even frustrated. Read further  How to Buy a Telescope

If you are planning on heading out to buy a telescope, you should know that there are a few specific tips on how to buy a  telescope that you should be aware of. If you learn how to properly buy a telescope, you will not only make the entire process as quick and easy on yourself as possible, but as well you will have the best chances of finding the highest quality telescope for the most affordable price. Read further  Buy a Telescope

If you are planning to purchase a telescope eyepiece for your telescope, one of the first and best things that you should do is read a telescope eyepiece review. By reading a telescope eyepiece review you will not only become more educated on the particular model that you are considering, but as well will get a better idea of the telephone eyepiece and how it works. Read further  Telescope Eyepiece Review

If you own a telescope objective lens model, you are going to want to be aware of the different places you can go to purchase a telescope eyepiece, so that if yours ever breaks you will be prepared and not have to put off your favorite hobby. Of the many different retailers offering a telescope eyepiece selection, here are a few of the very best. Read further  Telescope Eyepiece

Telescopes are truly wonderful inventions, and they have been around for quite some time now, but before you go out and try to buy your own telescope eyepiece, you should learn more about the device, how it works and how to choose the one right for you. Read further  Telescope Lens

Telescopes are incredible things, and with them you are able to gaze up into the sky and actually see the stars and planets close up. If you are interested in getting a reflecting telescope, there are a few things that you are going to want to be aware of first and you should also know where the best places are for you to go for this. Read further  Reflecting Telescope

The Hubble space telescope has to date been in operation for seventeen years and though initial costs were estimated to be no more than five hundred million dollars; its actual cost has been about five billion dollars. Of course, such high costs have led many to criticize this instrument and matters have not been helped much when the initial Hubble telescope picture Read further  Hubble Telescope Picture

Telescopes are instruments that are used to view objects that are at a considerable distance and one major use for such instruments is to be able to view the skies above us. The Hubble telescope is a name that is well recognized throughout the world and the reason for its popularity is that it Read further Hubble Telescope

Before going out to buy or even construct your own telescope you should become familiar with its working; essentially, it will magnify objects and make them appear to be closer than they actually are and this is achieved by bringing the image at the viewing lens’s focal distance. Read further Telescope

Today, went to Alton Towers with Rich, Paul and Anita. Weather held out for us and was really sunny by the end of the day. The new Rita ride was really good , damn fast!