The San Francisco call., 1897-12-19

The larger the lens the worse for
the astronomer, when there are
zephyrs or gales that ripple the
etheric fluid or matter, for then the
number Of twinkles gathered and TO
cused are greatly increased. This
phenomenon is noticed in a much less
degree when observing the planets, be-
cause of their larger area, whereas the
tiny light point of star is far more
easily detected
DR.. See has drawn diagram to IL
lustrate the etheric vibrations or riff
fles, or, as he terms it, in more tech
nica1 phraseology, "a disc showing the
floating molecules of the atmosphere
as viewed through the telescopes
tube without the eyepiece." Dr.
See and Professor Douglass have
even counted the twinkles or
rifles. With the average fair
weather conditions at Flagstaff there
are just twenty-five of then in te1
seconds. When they pass with greater
rapidity the Seeing is bad, for the
speed with which the eye can discern
is soon exceeded by the rapid motion
The observation of binary stars has
been attended with not an inconsider-
able degree of labor at Flagstaff,
caused chiefly by the necessity for an
exceeding nicely and accuracy of
adjustment of the immense tube as
each member of the myriad host of the
heavens is successively brought into
focus. Through the coldeSt of nights
with never a fire-for artificial warmth
would disturb the seeing" qualitie..
of the instrument-Dr. See and NJ
Cogshall, his assistant, lie side by
side sWathed in overcoats and Nava-
jo blankets. Mr.. CogshalPs weatl er
eye is glued to the finder" a LESSEE
telescope of no mean power; DR.. See
has his vision riveted through the eye
piece of the larger tube, pencil il
hand, prepared to record observation
by the occasional flash from a con
venient bullseye lantern. Observa-
tions of about 300 stars is considered
fairly good nights work by these
men.
The work of the Lowell Observatory
at Flagstaff has not been limited tC
binary observations or to any specia
lines of heavenly research The entire
planetary system has been viewed
and much of interest to the astron-
omer has been discovered. Among the
notable achievements of this station
is the work done by Professor Douglass
in his numerous observations of the
moons of Jupiter. He has accurately
mapped the fourth satellite 1t is but
a mere point of light when viewed
| through the ordinary telescope yet or
| its surface have been discerned mark
ings analogous to those on Mars
The rotative periods of both the third
and fourth satellites have been deter
| mined through the lens of the Lowell
Observatory, and the fact established
that each presents only one face to the
sun, as do Venus and Mercury
From this last important circum-
| stance a very significant law of re-
| tarding tidal action has been deduced
The diameters of the third and fourth
| satellites of Jupiter are, respectively
| 300 and 300 miles, each being about
the size of Mercury and the first and
| second satellites are, respectively, 2SOC
and 2200 miles in diameter The min
| ute and newly discovered Zero, the
nearest to Jupiter of all its moons, has
! been found and clearly defined by the
! Lowell observers during their station
| at Flagstaff. These lunar markings
! have never been observed by any other