The Scranton tribune. [volume] (Scranton, Pa.) 1891-1910, 1896-10-17
cludes all stars between IA and l6 de-
grees south.
CATALoGUING THE STARS.

name was constructed by Prof. Argel-
ander, Of the observatory at Bonn. In
Germany, who began his work in 1859.
Schonfeld took up the work when Ar
gelander died, and the result Is cata-
logue In four large volumes OF about
100000 stars, in the same field in which
astronomers OF sixteen observa-
the advantage of Instruments
that are vastly superior to those
psed by the pioneers. The of Profess
sor Skinner's labors may be popularity
indicated by stating that 1t includes
four degrees in width of the belt IN
which Sirius. the most brilliant OF the
so-called fixed stars. is situated.
The exact cataloguing Of these stars
will enable astronomers to describe ior
, each other the position Of comets with
greater exactness than heretofore. 1t
has already resulted in the discovery
of many variable stars not known as
such to Argelader or Schonfcld Pro-
fessor skinner is the lucky discoverer or
no less than four Of great interest the
field allotted to him. This vast work
may also lead to discoveries of meal
culable Importance in regard to the
course our own solar system Is pur-
suing through the eternal depths OF
space. whether it is q system as is sup
with other greater or lesser systems
around vaster center than the center
OF any single one of such systems; In
short the disclosure of the universal
scheme to a vastly greater extent than
can now be conceived In a scientific
| sense.
TRAVELLING THROUGH SPACE.
| 1t is now an accepted theory among
n Sf that tho sVStpfn Of which
| our little globe is part Is travelling
with inconceivable velocity somewhere
| through space, but astronomical sci
! ence Is yet too young for even guess
as to the direction. 1t must require
| hundreds or thousands or tens of thou
sands of years for even this swift mo-
| tion to change our relative position In
| regard to the nearest Of the fixed stars
| to an extent sufficient upon which to
base a tenable theory. That there
has been such a change since astron-
| omy became one Of the sciences is we'll
| established. Moreover, many of the
| fixed stars. so-called, are known to
| have q motion of their own, and the
| discovery and record of this motion,
which is called the proper notion" in
distinction from the apparent motion
due TO the swinging Of the earth In it's
! orbit. Is an important feature of pres
tItt ana lulCIe WtIh Ill CtuiNttioii WIN
| the cataloguing of these stars, and Civ
ing them local habtation and a name
by which the least departure from their
fixed" position may be known at once.
Still another task Of collaboration is
under the direction of Prof. Eastman,
which Is a re-observation and cata-
| loguing Of several hundred of the more
| important stars for purposes similar to
those which led to the cataloguing Of
all stars Of the ninth magnitude or
brighter.
THE MAGNETIC NEEDLE.
! Another work possibly more utiltar-
| ian in it's character than those de-
scribed Is in progress in mysterious
cavern in the hillside near the main
building Of the observatory. This Is
called the magnetic establishment, and
| 1t is devoted to observations of the
strange. and to a great extent, mex
! plicable antics of the magnetic needle.
In a vault beneath a little structure
composed entirely of wood, are the
magnetogra Every precaution has
| been taken in the construction of the
vault to insure isolation Of the magnets
| from disturbing local influences, even
to the exclusion of all direct commune
cation with the outside air. a continu-
Gus temperature of about 70 degrees is
maintained by ingenious automatic
machinery for increasing or decreas-
ing the heat. The only uverting force
in the vicinity is an electric railroad
| fourth Of q mile distant. and numerous
! tests have discovered the exact intiu-
! ence of the current, which Is consid-
cred in the observations and deduc-
| tions. In this mystic vault Is seen the
most remarkable evidences Of those
magnetic disturbances which travel
with the speed Of thought, not only
, from one part Of the earth and its gas
eous envelope to another but also from
sun to earth, from planet to planet.
and probably (who knows?) from suns
and systems which hold intimate mag
netic communication with each other
throughout the universe.
THRESHOLD OF KNOWLEDGE.
These studies are yet in their young
est infancy, and improved instruments,
| magnets, lenses, photography and
mathematical machinery may, at no
distant day. reveal wonders in tine
scheme of world creation, growth. d.
cay and death, Of which the most vivid
ina agination Of Poe or a Flammarion
could not have the faintest conception.
1t Is not generally known even to
| Washingtonians that there are nights
tory when any( of the public who
wish to probe the mysteries of the
celestial universe which the naked eye
o.! cannot see may look through the m. 6.
nifice mt 12-i; CHI qua tOrlal. Jup ter, with
his remarkable belts and five alel.i,es
(the little fifth one recently d.scov cred
only one hundred miles in diameter
and having its orbit bare 100000 miles
from the huge bulk Of the planet, has
not been seen from the Naval Obser-
vatory), has just passed from view on
his way to become morning star. But
Saturn is wonderful and awful spec
tacle, with its vast rings and many
brilliant satellites. But If the planets
are not numerously on exhibition at this
time the visitors yet do not lack Ell er-
tainment. Prof. Bouger who rres.des
usually at these dark senaces. turns
the huge tube upon the star cluster in
the constellation of Hercules, the most
brilliant of thOsa astound ng aggrega
tions of suns which are supposed to be-
long to one system, and which are
either invisible or appear merely as 4
faint nebulous spot to the naked eye;
or he will direct it to some of the Won
deTful colored stars: or to the beau
tful quadruple star, Epsilon Lyrae, or
to the Ring Nebulae, near Alpha Ly-
rae, WHICH ma! appear almost eSa t.
iy like our own milky way to dwellers
upon some planet situated within it's
magic circle.
These are illustrations of the Won
drous spectaclcs that may be seen
through the 12-inch equatorial The
great 26-inch equatorial is not available
for visitors, as its every moment must
be utilized for scientific purposes every
evening favorable for observation.
Thus it will be seen that the great Ma
tional observatory. with its vast ma
chinery for celestial observation, its
testing of binoculars. shronometers and
compasses. its production of naval al
manacs. is not wholly devoted to work
that may be called merely for utilitar-
ian and nautical purposes. but that its