The Maryville times. (Maryville, Tenn.) 1884-1944, 1896-08-20
TO STUDY The PLANETS,
THE L0wELLrExPEDITI0N STARTS
FOR THE SOUTHWEST.
,Chicago Times-Herald. 2Otb /,


FOR THE SOUTHWEST.
Chicago Times-Herald, 2Oth.)
The principals In an astronomical ex-
petition which, men OF science say, IL
the most important one planned for
more than half a century. left Chicago
last night for Flagstaff. Ariz., to go
eventually to Mexico. These gentlemen
carried with them the best lens in the
world, those Of the Lick telescope and Of
the unfinished Yerkes telescope excepted.
Under the favorable atmospheric and
climatic conditions to be found in Ari.
IONA and In Mexico. the best known to
astronomers on this continent, they ex-
pect to add volumes to the history of
the planet Mars and to make the most
systematic survey ever attempted of
the sidereal systems which whirl
through space around the southern
hemisphere
Percival Lowell. of Boston, heads the
expedition. Mr.. Lowell belongs to one
of the Oldest and wealthiest families In
New England. He has money, and he
prefers to spend 1t advancing astro-
nomical knowledge to buying yacht
and cottage at Newport. He 1t is who
will spy on Mars, adding to and correct
ing observations commenced by him
more than two years ago, at the same
time keeping his eyes open for anything
the other planets may do.
DR.. T. J. See, of the University of
Chicago. goes along to study the stars,
particularly the double ones. and to
make complete survey Of the south
ern heavens-an almost virgin field for
the astronomer. DR.. See has already done
notable work in the mathematics Of
astronomy. exemplifying, correcting and
prefacing the work of older observers.
With this expedition he will become
an observer on his own account In a re-
gion where comparatively little has
been done. Mr.. Lowell will be assisted by
A. e. Douglass, formerly of Harvard,
and w. A. Cogshall, Of Grand Rapids,
Mich. D. A. Drew. formerly of the Uni
versity Of Chicago. will assist DR.. See.
Last but not least is Alvan g. Clark.
the only surviving member Of the old
optical instrument making firm Of Cam
bridge. Mass, Alvan G. Clark & Sons.
He goes to put the new twenty-four
inch telescope in place, and, as he says.
III the seeing is good" he may remain
some time with the expedition. He car
ries the new lens with him In the sleep
ing car as tenderly as mother would
carry her babe.
These gentlemen were at the Palmer
House yesterday afternoon. Prof. s.. H.
Burnham and Prof. Barnard dropped in
ana corner of the smoking-room was
soon cracking with words that sounded
to the layman like bits out Of foreign
language. All of them left for the
South last night except DR.. See. He will
follow In week.
Mr.. Lowell built his observatory at
Flagstaff, Arix.. more than two. years
ago to study Mars. He went there be-
cause the atmospheric conditions were
better than he could find anywhere else
in the United States. He had good
telescope, with a twenty-four-inch OBJ
jective, and with 1t many many new
discoveries on the planet which bears
the closest resemblance to the earth. OF
the so-called canals on Mars. for in
stance, he discovered nearly 400, about
twice as many as had been found by
Schiappareili, long known as the closest
student of Mars among astronomers.
But he wanted to go farther SO he COM
missioned Alvan g. Clark to make him
new objective or ens-astronomers al
taken to Arizona last night. 1t will be
put in place and used there for couple
ways call 1t a glass" This Is the lens
Of months. Then the observatory will
be moved to the Mexican plateau, just
opposite the City Of Mexico, and there
the work will go on for years. Mr..
Lowell had his telescope made so it
could be moved, to take advantage of
changes In the positions Of the planets
in relation to the earth. He has spent
nearly 100000 on it.
The new twenty-four-inch lens Is the
pride Of the expedition. "The glass is
of the finest quality" said Mr.. Clark,
the maker. IT believe 1t to be the very
best one I ever made for an aperture"
DR.. See, who assisted at the test OF
the lens, in an observation of Jupiter
| is enthusiastic over it. He says he
never saw its work surpassed in bring.
ing out the detail of markings and color
ings, and its power for separating
double stars was found to be equally
good.
| The possession of such a good lens
makes these astronomers confident thai
in two years they will be able to vastly
increase the worlds knowledge of the
stars. The Southern heavens have never
been systematically explored. Sir Johr
Herschell is the only one who ever real
ly attempted it. From the Cape o.
Good Hope as a center, he studied tn,
astronomy Of the Southern hemispher,
between 1888 and 1888, but he passed
over double stars as Of little Importance
and he worked with an instrument i'm
measurably the inferior Of that which
Mr.. Lowell and DR.. See will use. TIT
Southern skies are studded with many
notable Consultations like the ShiI
Argus, the Centaur, the Southern Cross
which is the mariners guide south o.
the equator. and the Phoenix. There ar,