koniscope

{{Short description|Meteorological instrument}}

A koniscope (or coniscope) is a scientific instrument to detect and measure content of dust particles in the atmosphere.Storm Dunlop: Dictionary of Weather, {{ISBN|978-0-19-954144-7}} p. 83 A koniscope is also called dust counter, or Aitken dust counter,[http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=aitken-dust-counter1 American Meteorological Society: Glossary of Meteorology: Aitken dust counter] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110606104009/http://amsglossary.allenpress.com/glossary/search?id=aitken-dust-counter1 |date=2011-06-06 }} named after John Aitken who invented the first koniscope.

The koniscope is made by connecting a pump to a test tube that is walled with moist paper. The tube is held towards a light source and the pump is briefly activated. Dust particles will cling to the paper, producing a visible change in color.