Billion-Years-Ago Scenes to be Seen in Giant Telescope

Manawatu Times, Volume 61, Issue 276, 21 November 1936, Page 9

Billion-Years-Ago Scenes to be Seen in Giant Telescope

NEW YORK-Tho plans of the 200inch telescope, which will make this world’s largest “eye-piece" a structure resembling three live-storey - buildings litted together like sticks crossed to make a kite, were announced here on October 15.

It was announced also that the astronomers who “ride" this telescope will have a flying held on top of Mt. Palomar in California, so that they can fly to work.

Tho plans were described at a meeting of the American Institute by C'apt. C. S. McDowell, U.S.N., who has been lent by. the Navy to bo supervising engineer of the erection, of the G,000,000 uoliar telescope. The 200-inch ‘‘eye," the huge glass mirror which the telescope will carry, is already at the California Institute of Technology at Pasadena being ground. It should be finished in 1910, Captain McDowell said.

Hut the unique new structure which will form the body of the telescope is expected .to be. fabricated by next July, ft is being built by the Westinghouse Company in youth Philadelphia, Penna. This telescope, Captain McDowell said, will see a billion light years out into space, more than twice tho distance now plumbed. When an astronomer sees the object of a biiliau light years away, he is also looking at a scene that occurred a billion years ago.