The record-union., 1891-11-12
TIE STELLAR LECTURE.
Professor Barnard Draws an Immense
Audience.
A Lecture Replete With Interest and
Beautifully Illustrated by Tele-
scopic Photographs.


sign by Professor E. E. Barnard. of the
Faculty of the Lick Observatory, was
such that an immense audience gathered
IN the Metropolitan Theater last night.
Long before the time for opening the
doors the entrance was packed with peo-
PIE, and when the doors opened perfect
crush took place, so that it was with the
utmost difficulty that tickets were taken.
AT 1:45 standing room only was an
nounced in all parts of the house, and a
great number of people were turned
away, unable to gain admission.
1t is announced this morning that those
holding unused tickets who applied and
could not get into the theater will have
their money refunded by those of whom
they purchased them. Most tickets were
sold by members of the Museum Associa-
tlon, and returns from them must be first
gathered, or the committee would redeem
at once at given place.
Professor Barnard is a young man, of
quiet presence, sensitive almos to ttimidity
and evidently fears that he cannot make
MS subject deeply interesting to his hear
ers. But in this he is mistaken. He
speaks dellberatively, in conversational
manner, with deep earnestness and with
out any effort at elocutionary effects He
pleasantly here and there. The test of
the value of a lecture, and the interest
awakened, is in the attention given by an
Intelligent audience. Professor Barnard
had as fine an audience last night as ever
gathered IN Sacramento, and he held its
undivided attention for two hours. No
other comment upon the success of the
lecture is needed.
be began by expressing the pleasure
ne felt in being able to contribute his
services in aid Of such worthy institu-
lons as the Museum Association and its
School of Design. He had passed a de-
hgheful period in the art gallery and
school, and paid the city a high compli-
ment in the possession of those educa-
tlonal institutions. The first half of the
lecture was devoted to an explanation of
the spectroscope as used in astronomy to
demonstrate motions in the stellar sys-
tenn and other characteristics to concise,
clear, deeply interesting statements of as
Economical facts, and especially those re-
lating to more recent discovery concern
ing the multitude of stars and other
heavenly bodies.
These discoveries are due mainly to the
Introduction OF photography in telescopy
by the use OF the dry instead Of the wet
plate. by this use and the exceeding
Lengthened exposure of the plate possible
extending from one to over four hours
there have been revealed to an astonished
caDaDlH
being seen upon the Photographic plate
exceed by countless millions those that
can be seen by the unaided eve, and by
many hundreds of thousands those re-
vealed by the most powerful telescope.
His explanation of the reason for this
truth was very clear, but is too long to be
reproduced here. In the main, however
it results from the ability to keep the
Photographic telescope fixed accurately
upon one point in the heavens for long
time, and in the meanwhile exposing the
dry plate long enough for stars, and suns
and worlds not heretofore even contem-
plated as possible by the most vivid
Imagination, to print themselves by their
light upon the Photographic plate. 1t
was because of the wonderful achieve
ments in this direction that he entitled
his lecture Recent Photographic and
Visual Astronomy
To attempt an adequate synopsis of a
lecture of such extent, and so rich in in
formation of technical character in the
ordinary report of a newspaper and the
time allotted, is to invite failure All that
can be done is to give some idea of the
character of the lecture and its extent
The introductory half, it may be said
then, was devoted to correction of some
popular errors regarding the moons sur
face; to point out the almost incredible
results achieved by telescope photogra-
phy; to explain the use of the spectre
scope and how the prismatic hueS are
made the means of revelation, and to give
briefly the general facts regarding plan
etary systems and stellar wonders that
recent research has laid before the world
and especially those that have been estab-
lished by the agency of the Lick OBJ
servatory.
Then followed rare treat indeed, the
presentation of some sixty astronomical
Photographic views taken through the
telescope medium, and mainly at the
Lick Observatory. Professor Barnard
was too modest to say that the finest of
these, that relating to the revelation Of
the countless suns and myriads of stars
IN the milky way, are the result of his
own skill
The views were superb; the finest ever
shown in this city, and Professor Barn
ard, after the lecture, said that the electric
light manipulated by Edward Johnson
showed them TO finer advantage than he
had seen them. The first views were of
the Mount Hamilton roadway, of the
slopes and flank of the mountain III win
ter; the Observatory from many points of
view, its exterior and interior, ETC. AS
the more beautiful of these splendid pic
lures were shown the audience applauded
warmly.
Then came views of the moons surface
and deeply interesting running comment
by the lecturer explaining the surface of
the moon as revealed to the astronomer.
All these lunar views were taken at
Mount Hamilton and surpass any ever
befoIe produced in beauty, accuracy and
revelation. Professor Barnard explained
to the entire satisfaction of his hearers
why it is so little is known of the moons
surface and why il is that pictures of it
fail to give correct idea of the immensity
of the lunar craters, the great nights of
its mountains and the awful depths of its
volcanic cups. He frankly admitted that
astronomers know greatly less of the
moon than the general public gives them
credit for.
Then followed views of various star
sections of the heavens. These won
derful revelations, he assured the
spectators, enabled them to see by the
aid of the magic lantern what no tele-
scope now or ever can reveal to the eye.
1t showed suns and stars by countless
myriads 10 exist where by the telescope
view they are, compared to the photo
graphic revelation, but very few. The
beauties, the marvellous distances. the
Stupendous numbers of stars and suns,
their relative sizes, the dark, unfathomed
space pathways winding among them
were dilated upon, with a plenitude of
other astronomical facts added.
Then came views of nebul8 in great
number, and these were especially rich
and profoundly interesting. These were
followed by views of the planets Mars,
Jupiter and Saturn, the transit of Mer-
curry, the transit of Venus: the SUMS en-
Velope and sun spots; the great red spot
in Jupiter; the canals and seas of Mars;
the rings of Saturn and their apparent
disappearance last month.
Next In order. were views of comets, in
which the peculiar effect was shown of
the elongation of the stars upon the plate,
due to the telescope being kept fixed upon
the comet, which thus gave the instru-
ment motion that was developed In the