The Indiana State sentinel. [volume] (Indianapolis) 1868-1895, 1893-09-20
GREAT is THE spEcTRoscopE.
1t Promises to Reveal Wonderful
Secrets as to Star Making.

80 W CtaA
The corps of astronomers at the OBJ
servatory on Mt Hamilton are now COM
pleting the results of Prof. Schaeberle's
observation of the greatest eclipse Of the
sun observed in Peru: watching that
recent wonderful heavenly visitant, the
comet: studying the "bright-line" stars.
and other matters incidental to the work
OF this, the greatest observatory Of the
world.
1t has never been definitely known of
what comets were composed, but Prof.
Campbell has been observing the recent
additions TO the armament at all favor
able opportunities with the big telescope
and its spectrum attachment. The re-
suit of his observation has been that the
spectrum lines show that the comet is
composed Of incandescent carbon and
nitrogen, being itself luminous. This has
been the cry heretofore, but it had
never before been actually determined.
The spectrum revealed the hitherto sus-
pected truth. While the astronomers are
satisfied with the observations of this
comet, yet much is still in doubt, and
will not be solved until some big comet
appears, such as has presented itself in
past years before the present means Of
observation were known. II such
comet should heave in sight all other
work would be suspended and all eyes
turned upon it, resulting undoubtedly
results.
Prof. Campbell at present is devoting
most of his time and attention to the
study of the "bright-line' stars, train
ing the great lens upon them night after
night. His work is greatly aided by
the spectroscope. OF these stars there
are only thirty-two in this hemisphere
capable of being observed, the remain
der, about nineteen in number, being in
the southern hemisphere, and not visi-
Ia nt he I fa1r he 1fafrr I'M fC
placed on the telescope, and the lens
trained upon one Of these stars, the
light from the star is broken up and
analysed by the spectrum, and the col
ors obtained arranged in broad band,
according to their intensity. Intersect-
ing this band are bright lines, whence
these stars receive their name The lines,
according to their position among the
colors, denote a preponderating abun-
dance of some element, one position indi-
eating hydrogen, another tin, another
iron, and so through the list of ele-
ments. In some of these stars the num-
Der Of bright lines is much greater tllan
in others, and this shows that the stars
are in different stages of development.
From these observations Prof. Camp
bell hopes to perfect a definite theory in
regard to sidereal evolution, which will
show whether the star is a new one
or one partly burnt out Or one entirely
dead All observations hitherto have
been made with comparatively small
telescopes and but few lines were
brought out in any of the spectra, but
when the thirty-siX-inch lens, with its
wonderful power was turned upon them,
many new bright lines were brought out
revealing the fact that the state of the
stars was far different from what was
supposed. Continued observations will
be made upon these stars, and many
new and interesting facts may soon be
discovered.
A very interesting object of observa-
ton has been the new star in the con-
stellation of AUriga, called Nova Auriga,
discovered on Feb. /, 1892, by Prof. An
drews of the Edinburgh observatory.
When first discovered this star was of
the fifth magnitude and was visible to
the naked eye. 1t remained in this state
for six weeks. 1t then decreased in in
tensity, and was visible only in the large
telescope for a period of six weeks more.
when it totally disappeared. In August
of last year it again appeared, having
increased to the tenth magnitude. and it
has remained in sight ever since, increas-
ing in brilliancy and commanding great
attention in all the 0bseryatories Of the
world. 1t is now supposed to be in the
first stage of sidereal evolution In the
past twenty-five centuries only twenty
of these new stars have been discovered
and the extreme rareness Of their ap-
pearance adds greatly to the interest in
regard to Nova Auriga was the nature
of it. Here and at Pultowa, Russia
where the second largest telescope in the
world is located, the lens being thirty
inches in diameter, the observation tend
ed to show that it was a planetary neb-
ulae or a nebulous star, but this theory
has been denied by leading English and
German astronomers. who have claimed
that it was a true star. Recent observa-
tions at Mt Hamilton disprove the theory
of its being a true star. and establish
the fact that it is a nebulous body. The
spectrum exhibited exactly the same
features as the spectrum of those stars
which are admitted to the nebulae
Without a doubt the spectrum has
proved to be the most valuable scientific
aid to astronomers Of all discovered in
recent years. While il has been in use
for nearly twenty years, yet II has been
only in the last five years that II has
proved to be of much value. It is now
used both usually and photographically.
The Lick observatory will soon be fur
nished with a new spectroscope of the
latest and best manufacture, d. O. Mills
having given a sum of money sufficient
to purchase such q one as is needed
| San Francisco Chronicle.