The evening times., 1897-11-30

Boston, Nov. 3O.-Dr I. j. j. See, who
has had charge of the Lowell Observatory
in Flagstaff, Ariz., established and main
tanned by Percival Lowell, is in Boston.
He gives an account of his recent Giscov
cries through the twenty-four-inch tele-
scope built by Alvan Clark & Sons, which
has been In use for eighteen months. Prof.
See has found his station a most favora-
BILE one for observation, ana says the Ari-
zona air is clearer and purer than that
at any other station in this country.
Prof. Sceond his assistant have now come
to publish 4 report OF their work. The
former was at one time in charge Of the
department of astronomy in the University
of Chicago, anu is ranked among the ablest
mathematical astronomers OF the country.
He has been comforting with several men Of
science in Cambridge, and Harvard OBJ
servers are much interested.
DR.. See since August. 1s96, has discov-
cred about 500 new double stars. and has
measured about 700 objects. noticed by
previous observers. Many Of the stellar
systems discovered are large and brilliant,
and thus possess the highest interest.
Within the past year the Lo we'll observers
have examined no less than so, 600 stars.
They have swept over 200 systems.
Some OF the new stars are very close to-
gether and re barely separated in the great
lens. Others are unequal in brightness and
require the best atmosphere for effecting u
good separation.
The discovery of these 500 new double
stars is accounted the most important con
tribution to Southern astronomy since the
survey OF Sill John Helschcl. sixty years
ago. Cne OF these stars has been found to
revolve only once In five years, and another
In about sixteen years. Both have become
of the highest interest to observers.
The plan Of DR.. See is to form great
catalogue of every double star within sew
eBty-five degrees of the south pole, and
with this object he will continue his eN-
plorations for several years.
One Interesting conclusion Or. See mas
reached involves = modification OF the IA
mous" hebulaT hypothesis which, for more
than century las been accepted as the
most reasonable theory of the origin of eth
er stellar CT planetary systems. The new
double star discoveries are Interpreted by
DR.. See to suggest that the more unasual
method of the formation of system 3-iyi-
nally is that the central mass divides IN
masse. The satellite, then, begins life not
as all annular ring about the original body.
but in nearly its original form. The rings
Of Saturn he regards simply as AN eycep-
tion to the rule Ore of the phenomena sug
gesting this is tile general equality of he
componeEis of a double star system. Re
sides, IT, cir orbits are as arule twelve times
more eIiIptical than the orbits of plan
etary system.
To a mathematician this suggests factors
that have no place in \ planetary system.
One of these factors is the action of stell ,r
tides, which exert retar ding tendency md
| ultimately f1atten the orbits, which may
originally have been nearly circular.
! A phenomenon of great general interest
is the twinkliIig of the stars. SO familiar on
clear, cold nights. This DR.. See says, is
due to snail waves or currents in the air,
about the size of an egg, or sometimes even
| longer than man x hand. Theselittle wa yes
| fill the air under certain conditions, as on a
| cold night, and Imposing before the eye. dart
the light from side to side, and in this way
| convert the light of the star into co!ors or
extinguish it entirely. The appearance is
| similar to light reflected frun wavy, run
ming water. Mr.. Douglass discovered how
W f~st tilts NaNts Win Il ttiesCDpe- anu
Dr. See brings proof that they cause the
twinkling.
Other important discoveries have been
made in the Lowell observatory. 1t was
occupied III 1S94-95 in the study of Mars
Numerous canals were discovered. Many
of the canals were found to be double, and
Schiaparelli'. theories were confirmed and
extended.
The shining surface of the planet was
founI t. be sprinkled with cases or IN.
tersections of the canals, which seemed to
he arranged IN a somewhat artificial man
ner, as is the result of local Intelligence.
Prof. Douglass proved the existence OF
clouds on Mars, varying in height from
five to twenty-five miles.
Mr. Lowell, in S96, found that tie two
inner planets, Mercury and Venus. rotate
on their axes in the same time in which
they revolye i'll their orbits. These bodies
thus show the same hemispheres TO the sun
all the time, and the opposite halves are
wrapped in everlasting night.
Prof. Douglass has recently determined
the rotations Of Jupiter's third and fourth
satellites anc found these bodies sho W only
one face toward Jupiter. 1t was during
1896 that the observatory began an ex-
ploration of the southern skies for new
double stars and nebulae. The region near
the south pole is almost a new field.