Discoveries in the Physics & Astronomy shop | Science, curiosities, and surprises
Do not attempt to clean expensive optical equipment with the same things you use to clean your nose.
Remember: instructions that seem to lay out the most common-sense directives – on signage, in user manuals, in a specification document – are sometimes the result of people actually doing those questionable things.
You can bet someone tried cleaning a telescope’s eyepiece with the handkerchief from their pocket.
Stumbled across this little old gem while cleaning the Observatory. Age unknown, could use a little cleaning, but it still mostly works. We’re charmed by all manner of objects around here.
Neat-o!
Sometimes, stuff just lingers. It’s unclear how long it’s been sitting on this or any shelf, whether it has any use anymore, how on earth to dispose of it, etc. Of course, those odd objects tend to sport some of the coolest old labels.
So much to enjoy here! Buddy the dog, holding a flag with his name, but also helpfully labeled below as “Buddy,” just in case it wasn’t obvious enough. Directions for using metal polish on non-metallic surfaces, which – to be fair – might not be obvious. (Still mostly amounts to wipe on with a soft cloth, wipe off with a soft cloth.) The prime visual real estate for “Non-Inflammable,” which is an entertaining reminder of the flammable/inflammable quirk of the English language. What a country!
It’s not entirely clear if the yellow color was an original choice or has been caused by many years of aging paper.
At any rate, the steel cap is thoroughly corroded shut, so there’s no telling what remains inside. Whether that corrosion is caused by or despite the contents of the Capital Metal Polish container, we’ll never know.
The Clark, our lovely 19th-century telescope. Much to be written on it another time, but here’s a picture with the dome open on a fine, sunny day.
Just look at that lovely brass set against the black steel tube. Magnificent.