The Coconino weekly sun., 1894-05-03
LOWELL OBSERVATORY.


 astronomers an opportunity of close observations of the is our neighbor in the solar sys- tenn. It will be of especial in- terest to us of Boston from the fact that our own citizen. Mr. Percival Low ell, who has great interest in Mars, will establish in Arizona large and well equipped observatory especially for the observation of this planet.
 1.-The oppositions of Mars, which occur at intervals of about two years, are the times when the position of the planet in the sky ia one hundred and eighty degrees from the sun, or in a general way, it rises at about sunset. A simple diagram of the orbits of the earth aud Mars, which anyone can draw for himself, will show that the earth and Mars, being at such times in the same parts of their orbits, they will be more closely approached to each other than at any other times. For this reason, the oppositions of Mars are eagerly awaited by those who have interest in this plauet, in order that they may add to their store of informa- tion about 1t.
 1.-The Lowell observatory will be con structed and equipped for the sole pur- pose of securing the best observations of Mars under the very best conditions. From his own private means Mir Low ell will fit up an observatory at some place not yet selected, where with his staff, he will speDd the summer and fall. His observatory will be fitted with in- struments adapted to the especial work in hand. These will include tclc- scope of eighteen inches aperture, made by tho optician Brashear, and CuHeiutIcu OuC oi Hio HHcct SidssVo, a twelve inch telescope by Clark of Cam- bridge, and six inch telescope by the same maker, the latter being the in- strument used by Mir. Lowell for some years past, which he has taken to Japan and other foreign localities.
 af A,.i. ( hA place from which to observe is due to opinions as to the desirability of desert sites for observatories of this nature, opinions brought forward by Professor w. II. Pickering, and borne out by Mr. Lowcll's own experience in the arid re- gions of Japan. Mir. Lowell has al ready sent an observer out into the dis trict, MT. A. E. Douglass, who has been there some two months, making observations whereby to select site for the observatory. He reports the atmospheric conditions of the territory of Arizona as remarkably even, and Dt the present time he is located at Flag staff. which will probably be the place finally selected. The construction of the dome to cover the great telescope, which has three inches more aperture than at Harvard, is being carried for ward in this city, and later it will be shipped west in sections.
 Although tue gentlemen, Professor w. II. Pickering and Mir. A. E. Doug lass, who have been selected by Mir. Lowell to aid him in his work, have been connected with Harvard College observatory, they are now in no way connected with that institution. They have secured temporary leave of ab- sence from it to join the Lowell observ- atory, and in the latter the work will be conducted under Mir. Lowell'S per- sOnal supervision and direction, So the coming opposition of Mars will have something of personal interest to our citizens, and our best wishes and hearti est goodwill will go forth to MT. Lowell in his appointment with Mars in June'.n
 The road to the observatory will be next week. It is passable now for light conveyance.
 The president of the board of trade has received letter from Mir. Perciyal thanking the citizens of Flag staff for the friendly interest and court esies extended by our citizens.
 The foundation Is finished and the is here, so thatit only remains for it to be placed in position in order to be ready for the instrument.
 Flagstaff will get the observatory. Professor Douglas found thc condi- tions there so superior to anything In southern Arizona and so nearly perfect that he decided to look no further. The elevation is about 1000 feet, or a mile and third above us. Flagstaff