Heliograph, or heliostat is the name given to various contrivances for reflecting the sun's light either temporarily or continuously to an observer at a distance. The simplest heliostat is a mirror hung up at a distant station so as to reflect a flash to the observer whose station may be many miles from it. This mirror is generally so adjusted that the flash occurs exactly at some prearranged hour, and by being in readiness the observer can get an observation with precision as regards time. Some heliostats are visible for 80 miles. By being fitted with an adjustment of clock-work, the mirror can be made to revolve with the sun, and so to reflect a beam of sunlight steadily in one direction, being then called also heliotrope. The heliostat has been used for signalling in war. Research Heliograph
Heliotrope (Heliotropium) is a genus of plants of the family Boraginaceae. The species are herbs or under-shrubs mostly native of the warmer parts of the world and have alternate leaves and small flowers usually disposed in scorpioid cymes. Research Heliotrope
William Beattie was a Scottish physician, poet, and miscellaneous writer. He was born in 1793 and died in 1875. He was author of the standard Life of Thomas Campbell, whose intimate friend he was; published several poems, including John Huss, the Heliotrope, and Polynesia; wrote a series of descriptive and historical works, beautifully illustrated by his friend and fellow-traveller, W H Bartlett, on Switzerland, Scotland, The Waldenses, The Danube, Castles and Abbeys of England, etc, and produced a vast amount of miscellaneous literary matter. He had a very extensive and lucrative medical practice. Research William Beattie
Agate is a semi-precious stone siliceous semi-pellucid compound mineral, consisting of bands or layers of various colours blended together, the base generally being chalcedony, and this mixed with variable proportions of jasper, amethyst, quartz, opal, heliotrope, and carnelian. The varying manner in which these materials are arranged causes the agate when polished to assume some characteristic appearances, and thus certain varieties are distinguished, as the ribbon agate, the fortification agate, the zone agate, the star agate, the moss agate, the clouded agate, etc. In Scotland they are cut and polished under the name of Scottish pebbles. Research Agate
Jasper is an opaque, cryptocrystalline variety of quartz that takes a high polish and is used as a gemstone. It is usually stained by impurities and occurs in various colours, such as red, green, yellow, and blue. When the colours are arranged in bands, the mineral is called riband jasper; a variety containing alternating bands of red and green is known as Siberian jasper. Mottled yellow or brown varieties of jasper are called Egyptian jasper. Agate jasper is intermediate in structure between true jasper and chalcedony . Inclusions of red jasper occur in heliotrope. The jasper mentioned in the Bible as one of the stones in the breastplate of the high priest and as the foundation of the wall of the New Jerusalem is believed to have been a dark green, opalescent stone. The jasper of the ancients was a partially translucent stone, probably containing some chalcedony and a variety of the latter known as chrysoprase. Research Jasper
HMS Heliotrope was a British Flower Class corvette of 980 tons displacement launched in 1940. HMS Heliotrope was powered by two 3-drum type boilers providing a top speed of 16 knots. She carried a complement of 85 and was armed with one 4-inch dual-purpose gun; two 20 mm anti-aircraft guns and Hedgehog multiple spigotmortar. Research Heliotrope
The Probert Encyclopaedia was designed, edited and programed by
Matt and Leela Probert
Abbreviations
Research Heliograph
