The morning call. [volume] (San Francisco [Calif.]) 1878-1895, 1892-10-03
Professor Barnard Shows How Useless
Are CartWright's Pretensions.
EVERY DISCOVERY HAS FALSE CLAIMANTS
4 Letter From MeGnt Hamilton Maintains the Rep.
utation Of the observatory From The
Standpoint Of Reason.
Special to THE MORNING CALL

SAN JOSE, Oct. 2.-The following COM
munication from Professor Barnard, con-
cerning the discovery OF Jupiter's fifth
moon, b as been received by the Mercury:
MOUNT HAMILTON, Oct. 1, 1S92.-My at
tentton has been called to a telegraphic
dispatch going the rounds Of the press to
the effect that Mr.. Cartwright Of Detroit
has presented a claim for the fifth satellite
of Jupiter, backed up with affidavits of a
startling nature. i have already, In an ar
ticle published on September 25, shown the
folly of such claims. if for no other reason
than the fact that this satellite can only be
seen with the giant telescope of the world.
None OF these claimants have ever been
heard of before in conhection with any as
Economical work, good, bad or Indifferent.
II only notice this claim of Mr.. Cart
wright's because statement is made in the
dispatch referred to that is as detestabe as
it is contemplate, and requires reply. The
dispatch says: 1t would seem apparent
that these letters sent to the observatories-
at any rate one sent TO the Lick Observa-
toTy-directly inspired the discovery of the
fifth satellite by Professor Barnard won-
der what Mr.. COgley would say to that.
But as to the dispatch, would Say that up
TO the present moment any letter ever sent
to the Lick Observatory by Mr.. Cartwright
has never been seen or even heard OF by me,
and know nothing absolutely Of the exist
ence of any snch letter.
II have no doubt that every observatory
of any consequence in the world has dozens
of such letters on its files with claims from
mythical planet within couple OF de-
grees of Uranus aud with satellite up
near the north pole OF the heavens, as
pointed cut by spirit on the star Vega, to
the discovery of the double canals on Mars
with the naked eye. These two letters ac-
tually exist
''In connection with my statement Of the
difficulty of seeing this satellite with even
large telescopes, l am sure Professor Young,
so well known to everybody, Will pardon
my quoting froEl a letter just received from
him in reference 10 the discovery, and that
his instrument at Princeton is the third
largest in America. 1t is 23-inch Clark
telescope, the name OF the maker being
guarantee that it is as perfect an instrument
as can be made.
''He writes: I tried my best to see the
satellite, but without success. /
also suppose that the telescopes at Wash
ington (26-inch) and Charlottesville (25).with
mine here (23-inch) are the only ones in
this country which would have the least
chance of being able to see the object.
take it for granted that in giving its magni-
tude as thirteenth you mean that it is of the
same apparent brightness as thirteenth
magnitude star at that distance from the
planets limb If SO, it Is quite question
whether / could possibly see it. rather
think | could, but am by no means confident
that could
HE writes for positions of the satellite,
and just where and when to look for it.
II have not yet heard OF the new satellite
being seen with any telescope in the world
yet, except the Lick 36-inch. Suppose Mr..
Cartwright and Mr.. Cogley have definite
understanding between them as to which of
,c4 lo,. hos. .tallt fnrf IN
one then settling his difference with me?
'.E E. BARNARD"