Omaha daily bee., 1895-12-29
PHOTOCRAPHINC THE STAR
An Interview with the Director Of the
Harvard Observatory.
INTERESTING DETAILS OF THE WORK
wonderful Collection of Plates Mt the
CoIicgc--Thc observatory Mt
observation-disclosures South
of the Equator.

Harvard astronomical observatory, both by
the discovery Of Nova Carinae, new
star in the constellation Of Carna, and the
shipment of the magnificent Bruce photo
graphic telescope to the astronomical station
at Arequpa. During the past 1000 years,
from the beginning of the record by the
famous astronomer Hlpparchus, the dlseov
erer of the first so-caled new STAR B. Z.
134. down to the present day, only fifteen
of the description have been noted, an aver
age of less than one In a century. What
a feather 1t is, therefore, for the cap OF the
Harvard observatory to have made the latest
addition to this notable list and more even
than this, to have won this credit twice
in succession. Before the coming into view
of Nova Cartinae, the last in line was Nova
Normae, also discovery OF the
Harvard observatory, and, oddly enough, eX-
actly two years earlier.
These stars, technically styled new"
are not permanent additions to the heavenly
host. They come into being or into sight
only to glow with an intensifying radiance
for a few weeks or months and then to fade
away by dissolution into gaseous nebulae. Ihe
special interest attaching to these trans
itory beacons of the sky is in the ma
terial which they afford to students for in
structive analysis and comparison and the
light which they cast on the formation OF the
universe and its laws. Hence astronomical
science seeks assiduously to determine the
constituents of these bodies and their features
of resemblance or divergence with reference
to the permanent stars.
-. .-~Por the extension of this scientific inves-
tigation the Harvard observatory Is today
-eminently fitted. 1t is by no peculiar or
unearned favor of fortune that this opser-
yatory is today in the forefront of discovery,
but simply because of its unequaled complete
ness of equipment in astronomical stations,
appliances and observers. Its stations at
Cambridge, Mass, and at Arequipa IN Peru,
on the slope of the Andes, afford a complete
field of view of the heavens surrounding
both the northern and southern hemispheres
This comprehensive range of survey is neces-
sarily beyond the reach of any single station
no matter how advantageously situated or
superbly equipped for observation.
y 1t has also at Arequipa the largest refract-
ing Telescope in use on the southern hemis-
phere at a point where the steadiness ana
cearness of the atmosphere are exception
ally favorable for astronomical work rms
instrument a thrteen-inch Boyden telescope,
is not of large size compared with the
thirty-six-inch Lick refractor, or with many
others north of the equator, but It's obserVa-
tions are OF great comparative value In we"
of the fact that there are 50 few telescopes
of even moderate power in the stations south
of the equator.
BY the cooperation Of the two stations
under one general director or head every I'M
portant piece of work that is undertaken can
be extended according to an uniform pan 50
as to include stars in all parts OF the SKY
ranging from pole to pole. 1t mas the most
infinitely complete chart of the heavens whlch
has ever been prepared, and 1t is the only op-
servatory which is now making yearly
complete photograph of the heavens visible
from both northern and southern hemls,
pheres. In the conduct OF the work carrieu
on at the two observing stations aullIapIe VI
ARRANGEMENTS have been made to secure Ia
cilty Of reference and cooperation, ana tele-
graphic communication Is used When uelay
would impede or prevent the requisite lhVes'i-
CATION. ,..
To the high Intelligence and completeness
of these provisions must he added the speclal
equipment of the observatory In Photographic
telescopes and collection OF plates OF price
less value from an astronomer point oI view;
The Harvard observatory has the ulstlhsulsheu
honor of having been the first to undertake
stellar photography and of having carried the
undertaking to proportions beyond any sug-
gestion of rivalry Inc nrSt phUoosprPn,e %bridge
observatory by Prof G. p. Bond and j. A
Whipple on July H. 1850. daguerreotype
plate was used and only the brightest stars
left a permanent image. rev years iateI
the work was resumed and glass plates and
many excellent photographs were thus op-
tained In 1872 DR.. Henry Draper was frst
TO succeed in making a photograph showing
-...ha lines in the spectrum of q star, ana with
y the aid of more sensitive plates and other i'm
nroyel appliances the observatory during the
mast ten years has made great progress in the
Application of the art and in its collection OF
plates ,r, ,,,,o,,o1, ,D,,DD
In photographlng the stars set OF lenses
prepared for the purpose takes the pace
of the object glass in the telescope ana
by the attachment Of a prism to the lenses
= photographs of the stellar spectra are OBJ
taiped 1t is through the Photographic teles-
copes that the recent discoveries OF NV
stars have been made, for an examination
of the exposed plates showed marked dlf-
ference in the petra which Is apparent
even to an unframed eye.
With the use of the most sensitive plates
the faintest stars visible to the eye through
ths telescope have been photographed, and, in
the photographs Of nebulae and the most dis
tent stars, the astonishing result has been
attained of the reproduction Of stars too
faint to be seen by the most powerful
telescopes. The area of sky GOV red by the
plate used by the Harvard observatory is
400 square degrees and the total area
OF the sky is about 10000 square degrees
400 plates are sufficient to map the entire
sky. Complete photographs of the heavens
have been repeatedly made by the observatory
and individual stars and clusters and regions
OF the sky of special interest havs been
covered by elaborate series of plates of the
utmost value TO the student for the investi- |
cation OF STELLAR problems, The collection
OF plates now stored at Cambridge. con-
structed especially for the purpose, exceeds |
10000 In number and the addition from |
year to year Of about 1000 plates is now |
going on.
Sir Edwin Arnold has lately found cause |
for regret in the general Limitation of modern |
astronomical work TO the ascertalnment OF |
facts, and in the failure of astronomers to |
'use the rich sublimity Of the cosmc side of |
their business" The best thing that could |
happen TO mankind, he says, would be II |
great astronomer had been born poet, or If a |
great poet should become an astronomer. |
The astronomers Of the Harvard observatory |
are inclined to think. on the other hand, that |
the illumination Of mankind is not really de- |
pendent on the conjunction OF the poet |
as 10
prolonged patient and acute observation, the |
careful weighing of evidence and the scien-
tinc attainment that are requisite for astro-
nomical advances can hardly be reconced |
with the poetic temperament or faculty, and |
II seems idle to complain because nature mas
not combined them. The observers at Cam
bridge and Areqnlpa are avowedly intent
upon the accumulation OF facts for the en-
rlchment of our knowledge OF the universe
and its laws, and they have faith that the
field Of poetical or speculative treatment will |
be better filled by Sir Edwin Arnold and
other experts in this department of human