The herald., 1897-02-26
TIE WONDERS OF THE SKIES
3. R. Baumgardt's Interesting Lecture
on Astronomy
New Lights for the People Concerning the
Sun, the noon snd the Stars.
Admirable Illustrations

The astronomical lecture given by
| B. r. Baumgardt at Music hall last night
| was delightful ore and largely at
tended. "The Wonders of the Starry
! Universe" was presented with a series
Of stereopticon views taken from photo
| graphs by eminent astronomers in the
| last five years.
The lecture was given to assist in
raising funds for the purchase of an
astronomical telescope for the equipment
of a private observatory, With which to
enable the lecturer to further his as
Economical studies.
| The views presented were nearly all
| reproductions from photographs taken
by Barnard, Burnham, Payne, Keeler,
Roberts and others.
The lecturer said he who would learn
something of the infinite must not sit
| IDLY repeating the formulas of other
men and other days, but grid up his loins
and diligently explore on every side
and in all possible manners and ways
| that wonderful and mysterious starry
universe. The lecture commenced with
the sun spots-with some idea of their
| formation and development. They were
exceedingly interesting. When thrown
upon the screen the light and dark spots
were brought out distinctly. A series
| of views of the moon were given, show
ing the craters, the peaks, and the
changing scenery, and many most in
teresting features. The lecturer took
UP the planet Mars. with which we are
| more familiar than any other outside
our earth and the moon. Its most i'm =
portant elements were considered. Its
polar spowcap, with the seasonal
| laI ~ = I. - L.
Inhabited, and other interesting matters
were discussed. .
Views taken at Flagstaff in 1892 "a
were shown upon the screen. Saturn,
Jupiter, comets, nebu,ae star clusters,
and the milky way were all taken up in
succession by Mr.. Baumgardt, Y it'll
views and running comment full of
scientific data upon each one.
The development of modern astronomy
through Calico, his "Siderial messen-
ger" his persecution, his followers, his
discovery Of the sun spots. his impris-
onment ard death were al discussed BY
the speaker
Newton's theory of the attraction OF
gravita ton, his only instrument an an
cient geomtry, was touched upon with the
fact that no one for sixty years after the
publication of the Principal and with
Newton's methods has ever added any
thing of value to his deductions. The
nebulae and star clusters, as
sumed new lights under Mr. Baum
sardt's delightful pen. The star clus-
ters in the different considerations were
of the greatest interest. With each
reach Of telescope power new branches
are seen, "a sight" the speaker said, "of
surprising glory
The lecture closed with views of some
of the symbols Of the Egyptian, sup
posed to be astronomical and which are
engraved upon stone in their temples
The closing pictures were those of Sir
Isaac Newton, Calico and the great
Lick telescope.
The lecturer said in conclusion: Some
one has said that if the night was de-
prived of stars and there was only one
place where they could be seen from the
EARTH there would be a constant pill
grimage to this place in order to admire
these wonders. But as the stars are
visible on every cloudless night we pay
no attention to them and forget them for
infinitely less worthy pleasures.
THE earth has so many attractions for
us that we willingly forget the heavens
for it,"