what changed?

[Brian W (Brian)]

Hi all, I have been wandering through old astronomy books (circa 1850 - 1912) and have noticed that the older ones describe star colour with different colours than are now used. Green, purple and magenta being three of the colours used more frequently then than now.

Just wondering if this would have to do with the materials and techniques used in mirrors back then? Perhaps light and dust pollution in our 'modern skies'.

Or perhaps a combination of the above plus changes in the English language.
Brian

[Jeff]

Interesting Brian.
Any chance of providing a few more details (stars, colours, books)?
I wonder if it could also have anything to do with the equipment back then (eg. chromatic aberationfrom observatory refractors of the time).

Jeff

[Brian W (Brian)]

Hi Jeff you make a reasonable request and one that should not have been needed, my apologies. So heres one of the books and a quote from it. It is legally downloadable from the Gutenberg project web site.
Brian

Half Hours With The stars Being a popular guide to the use of the telescope as a means of amusement and instruction.

BY

Richard A. Proctor, B.A., F.R.A.S.,

Author of "Saturn and its System," Etc.

With Illustrations on Stone and Wood.

An undevout astronomer is mad:
True, all things speak a God; but, in the small
Men trace out Him: in great He seizes man.
YOUNG.
New York:
G.P. Putnam's Sons.
1873.

> Below Orion is Lepus, the Hare, a small constellation containing some remarkable doubles. Among these we may note ξ, a white star with a scarlet companion; γ, a yellow and garnet double; and ι, a double star, white and pale violet, with a distant red companion. The star κ Leporis is a rather close double, white with a small green companion. The intensely red star R Leporis (a variable) will be found in the position indicated in the map.
Ps the G.P has some other interesting astronomy books.
B

[Jeff]

Thanks for the info Brian.
Was interesting to read the Mikipedia entry for Richard A Proctor...life was hard back then!
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Richard_Anthony_Proctor

Had a quck skim through the early parts of his "Saturn and its System" on Google books. Not an easy book to read, but nostalgic to look at chapter 3 "Telescopic Discoveries" to get a feel of how many aspects of the solar system were worked out. Also managed to sqiz at some of the old "Half Hours With the Stars" stuff ... amazing how similar the format us to current monthly viewing guides at skymaps.com.

Not sure about the star colors though.
It's possible that the publishers directed him to liven up his language to appeal to the general public, because the descriptions seem to be overly flowery & ornate ... possibly even gross exagerations to make thisngs more exiting. Would be hard picked to guess it as the same guy who wrote "Saturn and its System".

Jeff