The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1893-08-26
THE SPECT'ROSC0PE.
n PROMISES TO REVEAL WONDER
Full STAR SECRETS.

Bodies.
The corps of astronomers ut the OBJ
servatorv on Mount Hamilton are now
romnleting the results Of Professor
Schaeberle's observation OF the great
sclipse OF the sun observed in Peru,
speculating on that wonderful heavenly
vistaps the comet: studying the bright
line stars. and other matters Incidental
10 the work of this. the greatest OBSERVE
tory OF the world i.
II has never been definitely known OF
what comets we're composed, but Pro
lessor Campbell has been observing the
veoent additions TO the armament at all
favorable opportunities with the big tel
sscope and It's spectrum attachment.
Tho result OF bis observation has been
that the spectrum lines show that the
comet Ia composed Of incandescent car
bon ard nitrogen, being itself luminous.
This his been the theory heretofore, but
Il had never before been actually deter
mined. The spectrum revealed the hith-
erto suspected truth While the astron-
orners 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. III
such a comet should heave In sight all
other work would be suspended, and all
eyes turned upon it, resulting undouot-
edly In astonishing and almost unhoped
for results.
Professor Campbell at present Is de-
voting most of his time and attention TO
the study of the bright line stars,
training the great lens upon them night
after night. His work is greatly aided
by tho spectroscope. or these stare
there are only 80 in this hemisphere
capable Of being observed, the remain
der, about 10 in number, being in tho
southern hemisphere, and not visible at
the Lick. When the spectrum is 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 colors obtained
arranged In broad band according TO
their intensity. Intersecting this band
arc bright lines, whence these stars re-
ceiye their name. The lines, according
10 their position among the colors, do
note preponderating abundance OF some
element, one position indicating hydro
gen, another tin, another iron, and so
through tho list Of elements. In some
OF these stars the number of bright lines
Is much greater than in others, and this
shows that the stars arc in different
stages Of development.
From these observations Professor
Campbell hopes to perfect definite the
DRY in regard to sidereal evolution,
which will show whether the star is
new one or one partly burned 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 SO inch lens, with Its wonder
full power, was turned upon them many
new bright lines were brought out, re-
vesling 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 Au-
riga, discovered ON Nov. /, 1899, by Pro
fessor Andrews of the Edinburgh OBJ
servatory. 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 de-
creased in intensity and was visible only
in the large telescope for a period of six
weeks more, when it totally disappeared.
In August 1t again appeared, having in
creased to the tenth magnitude, and it
has remained i'll sight ever since, increas-
ing IN brilliancy and commanding great
attention IN all tho obseryatories of the
world 1t is now supposed to be in the.
first stage of sidereal evolution. In the
past 30 centuries only 20 of these new
stars have been discovered, and the ex-
treme rareness Of their appearance adds
greatly 10 the interest in them.
The most important question in re-
gard to Nova Auriga was the nature of
it. Hero and at Pultowa, Russia, where
the second largest telescope in the world
Is located, the lens being 80 inches in
diameter, tho observation tended to show
that 1t was planetary nebulB or a ne
bilious star, but this theory has been
denied by leading English and German
astronomers, who have claimed that it
was u true star. Recent observations at
Mount Hamilton disprove the theory Of
its being true star, and establish the
fact that 1t is nebulous body. The
spectrum exhibited exactly the same
features as the spectrum Of those stars
which ara admitted to be nebulB.
Without doubt the spectrum has
proved to be the most valuable scientific
aid to astronomers Of all discovered in
recent years While it has been in use
for nearly 20 years, yet it has been only
in the last five years that It has proved
10 be of much value. Ii is now used
both usually and photographically. The
Lick observatory will soon DO furnished
with new spectroscope Of the latest
and best manufacture, ID. o. Mills hav-
ing given sum Of money sufficient to
purchase such one as is needed. San
jose Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.