The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1893-08-09
GREAT rs THE sPhCrRoscoPE
It Promises TO Reveal wonderful Secrets nr
90 the PROCESS Of star.nakInE.
Fom n. saw Francisco Chronicle.

Prom N. saw Hanei,oo Chronicle.
SAN JOSH. July 2I-The corps OF astronomers
at the observatory on Mt. Hamilton are now
completing tho results OF Prof Schaeberle's
observation OF the great eclipse OF the sun OBJ
served in Peru: watching that recent wonder
full heavenly vsitant. the comet: studying the
"bright-line" stars. and other matters incl
dental to the work OF this, the greatest OBJ
servatory OF tho world.
1t has never been definitely known OF what
comets were composed. but Prof Campbell
has been OF serving the recent additions to the
armament at all favorable opportunities with
the big telescope and its spectrum attachment
The result OF his observation has been that
the spectrum lines show that the comet is com
being itself luminous. This has been the the
CRY heretofore tut it had never before been
HStuSY aerrmnsd The snee Ws rf tSs
tronomers are satisfied with the observations 81
this comet; yet much IL still In doubt, ana VIII
not be solved until some hig comet arrears.
such us has presented itself in FAST wears be-
fore tho present means Of observation were
eyes turned upon ii. resultin. undoubtedly in
astonishing &nd Almost resn nst
nrisIi;no% sj%rs, raining, the great sarE oG Is
greatly aided by the spectroscope. or these
stars there are only tllirty-two in this heml-
sphere capable Of being observed. the re-,
maindcr. about nineteen in number. being IN
the southern hemisphere. and not sble at
the Lick. When the spectrum is placed on the
these stars. the light from the. star is
broken W, and analysed by the spec,
trum snd the eol?rs obtained nrranfSd IN
tersecting this band are, bright line;; whence
these stars receive their name. The lines,
denote u preronderating abundance OF some
element, one position indicating HYDROGEN.
list OF lem In some OF these stars
number Of bright lines is much greater than
In others, aud this shows that the stars are in
From these obseryations Prof. Campbell
hopes to perfect definite theory in regard TO
sdcreal evolution. which will show whether the
star is a new one or one partly l,urnt, out or
one entirely dcnd. All observations ,hithert3o
have Teen made with comparatively small
out in any Of tho spectra. but when the thirty
sx-inch lens. with its wonderful power. was
brought out. revealing the fact that the state
Of tho stars was far different from what was
made upon these stars. and many new and IN
terestine facts may soon be discovered.
very interesting object Of observation
Feh. l.. 1892. by Prof; Andrsws OF the Edin;
iii. star was Of The fifth maGnifnde and was
visible to The naked eye, 1t remained, IN this
state Tor six weeks. It then decreased IN in in
scope for 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. increasing in .brllliancy and command:
ing great attention In all the ohservatories OF
the. world 1t is now supposed to he in the
first stage Of slderra evolution. In the past
twenty centuries only twenty OF these new
stars have leen discovered. and the extreme
rareness Of their appearance adds greatly to
the interest in them. The most important
question In regard To Nova Aurisa 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 tended to show that
it was planetary ncbum or q nehulous star.
but this theory has been denied by leading
English and German astronomers. who have
claimed that II WAS trus star. Recent OBJ
servations at Mount Hamilton disprove the
theory Of its being true star. and establish
the fact that II is II nehulouS body. The spec
trum exhibited exactly the same features $
the spectrum Of those stars which are admitted
to he nehuln.
Without doubt the spectrum has proved to
be the most valuable scientific aid to Rstron-
omers OF all discovered in recent years.
While 1t has been in use for nearly twenty
years, yet 1t has been only In the last five
years that it has proved to be OF much value.
1t Is now used both usually and photographic
ally. The Lick Observatory Will soon be fur
nished with a new sDectroscope 81 the latest
and best manufacture. d.. Q. Mills having
given n sum of money sufficient to purchase
such is needed,