The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1847-01-22

lot 60
Here is satisfactory illustration Of the .capaby of
the Washington observers-the result OF their first
effort, and showing that their instruments have been
used with diligence and great skill. The applica-
ton OF the celimatlng eyeplece accounts mt, Part Tor
observatory, and has led to the discovery OF OF
in instruments which appear heretofore to have es
capped the vigilance Of astronomers Lieutenant Maury,
in his report to Mr. Bancroft (under whose adminstra
ton of this branch OF the the observatory
fostered and protected,) says:
"In illustration of the patient diligence and care which
the officers have been required beow upon their obser
vaons and the pains with which they have taken to free
which has been possible provide against beg to cad
attention the and manifold applications
implements of practical astronomy, the coimatng eye
piece The observations abound with evidences of its
tons made with the mural circle. An examination of
columns headed Nadir Point Microscopes, in the lat
ons will show you that enabled the observer de-
ect with almost unerrng accuracy the slightest changes as
be going too far say that the Nadir Points there
quoted give the chief value whatever it be- which the OBJ
"as nse which have made made IT, in tho
usments of the instruments has revealed iPeriectio
wise perhaps would have but barely suspected The
telescope is here supported not between two piers,
meridian transit instrument is but is attached to the end OF
axis and the outside OF its piers drawing
Plate ~ This axis is highly polished steel cylinder III
'The distance between its point of support and the tee-
scope which however does no, bear upon the axis with
coIimaling eyePiece shows that with short leverage
this slight weight sufficient produce sensible Hexure
in so stout a cylinder of highly wrought STEEL
This source of error which doubtless exists, does not
appear have attracted the attention of the great Sruve
OF whose instrument at Pukova this at Washington is
duplicate
The discussion of the latitude at the Washington OBJ
servaory affords interesting results. By measure
ment the prime vertical transit forty five feet south of
the mural circle By the observations the first just if
tyeght feet south of the atter-only thirteen hundredhs
of a second difference We know of observatory
the latitude has been discussed searchngy, the
result been obtained nicely than this The present
Astronomer Royal Greenwich discovered Of
second and half in the latitude of that ancient and re-
nowned establishment. At Washington the two instru
ments show that they in different parts of the same
building and greater accuracy than this can scarcely be-
expected.
Observatory recognising the fact that the old Observable
res disagreed among themselves by certain small quaint,
ties the decnaton of the fundamental stars, and
that if he attempted to establish his latitude IRON them
would be variable quantity greater less according
to the authority used udciousy proceeded first, to
tabsh his decnations and then to deduce his la-
tude, from data entirely his The latitude thus es
tabshed differs twenty vehundredhs of second from
the latitude derived from the of the destinations
given by eleven of the most renowned European auhor
ties.
AT other observatores, believe, reducing the obser
vaons of the transit instrument is much tedious
than making them-as in favorable weather one observer
can take many observations several can reduce
But by the application Of graphic process, which
seems to be original with the Washington Observatory,
the problem Is SO slmped mat one person can reduce
fast several observe The observing forms, at
the end of the volume well calculated to
curacy and economy, and to lessen labor
This naval observatory has commenced work OF great
credit and usefulness II has undertaken to penetrate
with s excellent telescopes every point OF space above
the horizon. with the intention Of assigning the place and
position of every STAR single binary and OF each clus
ter and nebua that shall pass through the field of
These will be arranged in the form OF catalogue, which
it is intended shall embrace every star to the 10th magn
tude We observe from statements made in the appen-
dix that the observations of the present year will afford
list of IL 900 5000 sars-by far the greater number
of which are now unknown to the catalogues. In
cutting this plan it is proposed to occupy several highly
interesting fields which promise rich harvests IN the way
of contributions astronomy These relate to the color Of
stars the form and appearance of clusters and nebuG In
this work, the observers required to assign magn
lde and color every star IN the catalogue by referring
to certain other we'll known stars standard guides
whose size and color already determined We have
well authenticated instances that stars even those of the
first magnitude which appear white red, pre-
scented quite different color to astronomers former
times Some philosophers maintain, that clusters and
nebula are the chaotic nuclei OF worlds, sys
tens of worlds If so, they probably undergoing
changes and period after period will present decided
marks of condensation The astronomy OF nebua IS
not old enough or il old enough, has not been sufh
GENTLY and extensive to detect any such changes
With view, however, of doing the plan OF making
accurate drawings of each nebuB and cluster at the
Washington Observatory is well conceived
We have been much interested IN MIR. Maurys account
of the attempts made to obtain aultless system of
wires for his telescopes The sklful instrument ma
ker attached the observatory, had put on what APP
peared to be beautiful system Of wires" But in
damp weather some of these lines always appeared
crooked "A very good instrument maker in Washing
city, and afterwards can nstrment-maker of much
repue in Philadelphia" vainly attempted TO remedy this
defect Lieut. Maury then tried his own hand "by no
-Asuopomical observanons, made during the year 1915,