Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1888-03-30

The same year a German (Busch) at
koenigsberg obtained daguerreotypes
OF a solar eclipse. Alexander, my pre-
decessor at Princeton, did the same
thing again in 1854, and nearly every
eclipse since then has been photographed,
more or less.
In 1851 Archer & Fry, in London,
brought ont the collodion process on
! glass, which as much excelled the da-
guerreotype as the new gelatine plates
exceed the collodion-at least 100 to l
In rapidity and sensitiveness.
In 1852 De La Rue, in England made
a remarkable series of unarphotographs.
In 1857 Bond, at Cambridge, made the
first photographs Of a double star.
In 1853 the Kew photheliograph was
set up, and for fourteen years secured
picture of the sun on every clear day.
In 1860 Henry Draper. in New York,
made photograph of the moon four
feet IN diameter-the largest but not
quite the best yet made.
FIRST PHOTOGRAPHIC TELESCOPE.
In 1SG3-'G4 Mr.. Rutherfurd, of New
York, constructed the first telescope for
photography exclusively, and in the
next few years made with them that
wonderful and still unsurpassed series
| OF solar and lunar photographs some Of
which You have already seen and others
will soon show you. He also, about
this time, made the first really valuable
photographs of a star cluster-the
Pleiades- obtaining many stars much
fainter than could be seen by the naked
eye, and he assisted in fitting out DR..
Gould for his work at Cordoba.
In 1872 DR.. Henry Draper scored the
first success in the photography of
stellar spectra. In 1874 came the transit
Of Venus and the combined photo
graphic campaign of the different
nations that united in its observation.
In 1876 came the introduction Of
gclatine dry plates, and since then pro-
grcss has been 50 rapid that [ cannot
here stop 70 sketch it. 1t is enough 10
say that since then all the planets and
many comets have sat for their portraits,
that most amazing results have been and
are being attained in the photography OF
stellar spectra, that numerous nebule
have been photographed, aud some IN
visible to the eve with any telescope have
been discovered. and now astronomers,
in accordance with the conclusions of n
congress which sat in Paris last sum-
mer, are actively preparing for campaign
which shall furnish a complete and ac-
curatc chart OF the whole sky in col
lection Of some II, 600 plates.
RETLEcTORs AND BEFRACTORs.
The lecturer went on TO describe the
two classes Of instruments used-re-
Electors and refractors illustrating their
construction and relative advantages 10y
diagrams upon the screen, and present
ing pictures of some of the best known
Of the instruments now at work.
ACTUAL PICTURES.
A number of pictures OF the moon and
Of certain ncbule were shown, those of
the sun having been shown on preceding
lectures; also, "a photograph OF a solar
prominence the only one ever taken.
PHOTOGRAPHS As 4 MEANS or MEASURE
lfENT.
Pictures OF certain star groups by the
Henry Brothers, of Paris, and by Picker
ing, Of Cambridge. were thrown on the
screen, with a discussion OF the peculiar
advantages and some Disadvantage Of
this method OF work.
Allusion was also made to the applica-
tion Of photography to the measurement
OF the 6righhicsg OF stars. and also pos
sibly in connection with the transit IN
strImcnt and meridian circle.
The lecture closed with discussion OF
the photography Of stellar spectra an
account Of the work Of Henry Draper in
this line and its continuation at Cam
bridge by Professor Pickering in con
nectlon with the Draper memorial fund.
PERSONAL.
Professor Young leaves this morning
to run up and take a look at the Leander
Mccormick Observatory at the Uni
versty, have some conference with Pro
fessor Stone and then hurry back to hls
own work Of star-gazing at Princeton.
He leaves many friends who have been
drawn 10 him no less by his genial man
ncrs and refined courtesy than 10y his
eminent scientific attainmonts and his
rare skill IN imputlng information to a
popular audience. And the city will not
soon forget its obligation to the college
for this course of lectures.
PROFESSOR HARPER.
On next Monday evening the same
hall will be open to the public with
theme and speaker not less interesting,
though quite difIcrent-a lecture on the
monuments and the Bble-by the
eminent Hebreaist and Old Testament
scholar, Professor William II. Harper, OF
Yale.