The Democratic press. [volume] (Ravenna, O. [Ohio]) 1868-1901, 1885-03-05
THE LICK OBSERVATORY.
Its Site q Favored spot-Saitable Atnaos-
pheric Conditions.

Its Site Favored spot-s.itabie Atnos-
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 OF
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 secs the city OF ) II
Jose, its buildings dotting with white
the beautiful plain in W ich it is situ-
ated. The view of the Pacific Ocean
beyond is cut of 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 al dis
tance of more than two hundred AID
fifty miles. On tue 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 rayine more than thous-
and feet deep. Snow and glaciers are
wanting. SO that the views do not COM
pare in magniticence with those OBJ
tained 10 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 1t 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 compare
lively slight, and, as matter Of fact,
many of the finest observations have
been made ab sea-levsl. 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 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 o thorough trial
OF the atmospheric conditions made by
alcompetent 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 world-wide,reputation by the
discovery, with ~ eight-inch tele-
scope, Of q great number of double
stars which had escaped the scrutiny OF
the Herschels and the Strives. Long
practice at Chicago in all sorts of at
mospheTic conditions fitted him to rec
ognize good cpnditions more quickly
and certainly than Ons WIG had devot-
ed himself to more widely extepaeG
branches of the science.
In the summer of 1879 Mr.. Burn
ham accepted 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
kind, but night after ght the astfoar
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 sesing are
few in number; the man who can scr
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 steadiness OF view which
is so rarely to be found at less favored
spots generally continued through lhe
whole night. Whether the future as
tronomer who shall scan the hea, ems
from this unsurpassed spot with an un-
rivalled telescope will enjoy during the
whole year such weather as occurs dur
ing summer and autumn can not be
foreseen; but even il he does not, he
will be more than satisfied with the
years work which he can perform dur
ing the favorable season.
As bearing on this subject We may
cite the observations and photographs
OF the transit OF Venus taken at the
Lick Observatory in 1882 by Professor
ID. T. Todd. These proved to be the
finest photographs of the transit ever
taken. The ssiH of the astronomer
was indeed very requisite to the
work: but this WOuld have ayailed
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 NeDc0mb, in Harper's
M100zi0e far Eoh