Arizona silver belt., 1894-01-13
THE SPECTR0SCOPE.
r PROMISES TO REVEAL WONDER
 FuL STAR SECRETS.


 May Teach Observers Something ReIat-
 Ing to Che Composition Of tho Heavenly
 Bodies.
 The corps of astronomers at the ob. servatory on Mount Hamilton arc now completing the results of Professor 6chaebere's observation of the great eclipse of the sun observed in Peru, speculating on that wonderful heavenly yisitant, the comet; studying the Upright line stars, and other matters incidental to the work of this, the greatest observa- tory of the world.
 1t has never been definitely known of what comets were composed. but Pro lessor Campbell has been observing the recent additions to the Armament at all favorable opportunities with the big tel cscope and its spectrum attachment The result of his observation has been that the spectrum lines show that the comet is composed of incandeseent car bon and nitrogen, being itself luminous This llas been the theory heretofore, but 1t had never before been actually deter mined The spectrum revealed the hith. erto suspected truth. While the astron- omers 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. If such comet should heave in sight all other work would be suspended. and ali eyes turned upon it, resulting undoubt- edly in astonishing and almost uuhoped for results.
 Professor Campbell at present is de- voting most of his time and attention to the sthdy of the bright line" stars, training the great lens upon them night after night His work is greatly aided by the spectrosc0pe. Of these stars there are only 39 in this hemisphere capable Of being observed, the remain. der, about 10 iu number, being in the southern hemisphere, and not visible at the Lick. When the spectrum is placed on the telescope, and tho lens trained upon ono of these stars, the light from the star is broken up and analysed by the spectrum, and the colors obtained arranged ia broad band according to their intensity. Interesting this band gre bright lines, whence these stars re- ceiye their name The lines, according to their position among tbe colors. de- note rrepondcrating abu' atance of some element ouc position indicating hydro gen, another tin, another iron, and so through the list of elements. In some of these stars t,le number of bright lines ls nlnch gre .ef than in others, and this shows ih-5 the stars are in different stages ot q gelopment.
 From theso observations Professor Campbell hopes 10 perfect a definite the 1ry in regard to sideFeal evolution, Hnich will show whether the star is a new one or one partly burned out or one entirely dead. AllobserYations hitherto have been made with comparatively small telescopes, and but few lines were brought ogt in any of the spectra, but when the 8 inch lens, with its wonder ful power, was turned upon them many new bright lines were brought ont, re- gealing iho fact that the state of the stars was far different from what was supposed. Continued observations will be made upon these stars. anu many new and interesting facts may soon be 1 lisC3veIej
 A very interesting object of obserya. jon has been the new star in the con stellGtlou of Auriga, called Nova Au- lsa, discovered on Nov. l. l892. by Pro. |
 OF Andrews of tbe Edinburgh ob- l ,erratory When first discovered, this | tar ws,s of the fifth magnitude and was 'isihle t5 the naked eye IL remained in | his state for six weeks. It then de- 'se3sed ia Intensity and was visible only Il he large telescope for 3 period of six weeks more, when 1t totally disappeared. D August it again appeared. having in- .reascd to the tenth magnitude. and if las remained iu sight ever since, increas pg ia brilliancy and commanding great ttention in all the obseryatories of the sorld. It is now supposed 10 be in the .rst stage of sidcreal evolution. In the ast 2J centuries only % of these new tarS EaYe been discovered, and the ex- relne rarencss Of their appearance adds realty to the interest in them.
 Tic most important question in re- ard to Nova AGrisa was the nature of :. Here and at Pultowa, Russia, where sc second largest telescope in the world j located, the lens being 90 inches in iamcter, the observation tended to show aai if was a planetary nebulse or a ne ulous star, but this theory has been enied by leading English and German sTonoGers, who have claimed that it -as true star. Recent observations at Iount Hamilton disprove the theory of s being a true star, and establish the lct that it is nebulous body. The 1eetrun exhibited exactly the same ,atures as the spectrum of those stars 'hich are admitted to be nebulm.
 Without doubt the spectrum has royel to be the most valuable scientific d to astronomers of all discovered in cent years. While it has been in use r nearly 20 years, yet it has been only
 the last five years that it has proved be of much value. It is now used )th yisually and photographically. The ick observatory will soon be furnished ith new spectroscope of the latest i'd best manufacture, D. o. Mills hay E given sum of money sufficient to lrchase such one as is needed. San 'se Cor. San Francisco Chronicle.
 A gTupi0ccnt Oocr