Springfield globe-republic. (Springfield, Ohio) 1884-1887, 1885-02-03
THE LICK OBSERVATORY.
Its Site Favored SpOt-Suitable Atmos-
pheric Conditions.

Before Mr.. Lick changed his board
of trustees he grew distrustful OF the
site which had been selected on the
borders of Lake Tahoe. and chose an
other on what is now known as Mount
Hamilton. The latter is prominence
in the Coast Range of California, forty
four hundred feet above the level Vt
the sea. and some fourteen miles in
straight line east of San Jose.
The view from the summit is one of
the most commanding in the United
States. Through ravine towards the
west the spectator sees the city of San
Jose, its buildings dotting with white
the beautiful plain in which it is situ-
ated. The view of the Pacific Ocean
beyond is cut off by range of noun
tains. Toward the north the eye takes
in vast region, covered with innumer-
able hills. half mountain and half field.
In very clear weather the peak of
Mount Shasta may be seen at a dis
tance of more than two hundred and
fifty miles. On the east. above the
neighboring hills. fine view of the
outlines of the Sierra Nevada range.
one hundred and thirty miles distant,
may be obtained at sunrise. On the
south the view is bounded by another
peak about the same height as Mount
Hamilton. Between the two noun
tains lies ravine more than thous-
and feet deep. Snow and glaciers are
wanting, so that the views do not com
pare in magniiicence with those OBJ
tanned in the Alps. but the clearness of
the atmosphere partly compensates for
this by the extent and variety of the
field which the eye takes in.
The astronomer is not concerned
with the earth, but with the heavens;
and an elevated station IS of no use to
him unless it brings some advantage
in looking upward. Other circum-
stances come into play TO such an ex-
tent that the mere gain of going above
a mile of the atmosphere is compara-
lively slight. and. Is a matter of fact,
many of the finest observations have
been made at sea-level. Notwith-
standing the clearness of the air. doubt
was thrown upon the suitability of the
sight for astronomical observations.
Observers had reported current of
warm air rising up the side of the
mountain at night sufficiently strong
to carry a sheet of tissue paper out of
sight. Such a current would be fatal
to astronomical observations. and it be-
came important. before commencing
the building. to have a thorough trial
of the atmosph ric conditions made by
competent observer.
The astronomers who were consulted
united in recommending S. W. Burn
ham. of Chicago. as the best available
Judge in the case. This gentleman, al
though an amateur in the science. has
gained a worldwide reputation by the
discovery, with an eight-inch tele-
scope, of a great number of double
stars which had escaped the scrutiny of
the Eerschels and the Strives. Long
practice at Chicago in all sorts of at
mospheric conditions fitted him to rec
ognize good conditions more quickly
and certainly than one who had devot-
ed himself to more widely extended
branches of the science.
In the summer of 1879 Mr. Burn
ham accepted a proposal to proceed to
California with his telescope. and spend
several weeks in surveying the heav-
ems from the top of Mount Hamilton.
The month of August found him in
stalled in little observatory which
had been designed and erected by Cap
tain Floyd. The results of his exam
ination exceeded all expectations, and
an astronomer has seldom had occasion
to make so enthusiastic report as that
of Mr.. Burnham. Not only were the
atmospheric conditions of the finest
l,,, in,bf oft ,,fvht ba
omer enjoyed such views of the heav-
enly bodies as Chicago offered him
only few nights in the year. The
general experience of observers is that
the very finest nights for seeing are
few in number; the man who can Sc
cure dozen year would be consider
I'd extremely fortunate. Even one Of
these favorable nights might not re-
main so for an hour. But at Mount
Hamilton that steadines> of view which
is so rarely to be found at less favored
spots generally continued through the
whole night. Whether the future as
tronomer who shall sean the heavens
from this unsurpassed spot with an un-
rivalled telescope will emily during the
whole year such weather as occurs dur
ing summer and autumn can not be
foreseen; but even if he does not, he
will be more than satisfied with the
year work which he can erform dur
ing the favorable season.
As bearing on this subject we may
cite the observations and photographs
of the transit sf Venus taken at the
Lick Observatory in 1882 by Professor
d. P. Todd. These proved to be the
finest photographs of the transit ever
taken. The skill of the astronomer
was indeed very requisite to the
work; but this would have availed
nothing had the condition of the at
mosphere been unfavorable. Alto
gether, we may assume that, so far as
mere looking is concerned. no existing
observatory is so favorably situated as
that now being erected by the Lick
trustees Simon NetocOnlb, in Harper's