The record-union. [volume] (Sacramento, Calif.) 1891-1903, 1892-08-03

time been accurately observed. Thus it
is claimed that they are 1000 and 1900
miles, respectively, distant from their
planet, and that one of them completes
its revolution about Mars in eight hours;
thus it passes through all the quarters
in very few hours.
But Professor Holden, the head of the
Lick Observatory faculty, in card to the
Associated Press warns the public not to
give credence to what he pronounces
sham and sensational reports. He says
the faculty is responsible for no reports
not officially signed. and that until Oeto-
! Der next when all the work of observa-
ton referred to is gone over and mapped,
nothing can be relied upon that may be
published about recent observations re-
not say that no new light has been or
may be shed upon Martial theories by
Lick Observatory work, he does say that
no good can come of speculation about
and exaggerated accounts of these sup
posed discoveries, but rather disappoint-
ment and injury to the cause of astro-
nomical science.
All which makes it timely to say
that at no observatory has the
proof of the high value of astronomical
photography been so well established.
By the aid Of the instruments California
wealth gave to the cause of education
| celestial bodies have been photographed
in countless myriads, which the tel
I escOpe will not reveal to the eye, be-
! cause it requires long exposure of the
sensitised plate to the blows of light from
| these distant bodies to imprint upon the
plates surface. The revelations Of this
Photographic research of the heavens are
marvelous-seem, indeed, incredible.
The fact that the Lick Observatory as
tronomers have been able to place some
of the results of this Photographic dis
! covery before the people is due to the
public spirit Of the Worlds Fair Asso-
citation of Santa Clara County, which has
rendered monetary aid necessary to Sc
cure the mounting and exhibition of the
Photographic transparencies at the
| Worlds Columbian Exposition at Chi
cago- The California observatory there
fore will be made especially prominent
in the exposition, and command especial
| attention from the scientific, because of
the discoveries made through its agency
and its contributions thus early to the
sum Of human knowledge, and which it
is probable would not have been made for
very long period of time, except for the
| benefcence of California wealth that
made the observatory possible.
1t is probable that the great majority of
the people at such an exposition as is to
be that at Chicago, will not give these
California astronomical exhibits any at
tention; in fact, except they were ex-
| planned in detail the masses would not
understand their great value. But the
few who make astronomy study, or
read Of its progress with view to keep
ing abreast with its information, will ex-
anime these Mount Hamilton plates with
great interest, instruct others concerning
| them. and debate them in public journals,
and thus the clientage of astronomical
advance will be enlarged more and more,
and the number indifferent to it be stead
lily decreased.
| 1t is by such means in part that the
people are educated upon technical SUBJ
jects. Demonstration by illustration and
argument through daily papers, weekly
journals, magazines, reviews, etc., is
constantly going on in all the branches
| of science, and the world of men is be-
coming intelligent and familiar, through
these agencies, with subjects that only a
few years ago were sealed books. Gener-
| ally correct, though not elaborate knowl-
edge of electrical, sanitary, astronomical.
and several other sciences, is becoming
nowadays the property of the intelli-
gence of the masses of the people, and
what but very short time ago were
mysteries. technical problems or profess
sional secrets, are now becoming plain
and understandable to the general mass
of men.