The Wichita daily eagle. [volume] (Wichita, Kan.) 1890-1906, 1897-10-23

has arrived at the opposite conclusion
Professor Runge says the only thing
wanting for complete proof of identity
| is for some one 10 examine these lines
as coming from opposite points on thi
solar disk, when, If really solar, they vii
be displaced in opposite directions oy
the suns rotation on its axis. Professor
| Hale indicated some OF the instrumental
means by which this may be hoped t1
be accomplished and Professor Comstocb
Endorsed the suggestions. Each OF the
speakers considered it as Of very great
| Importance to work for a solution Of
| this problem, which may mean a great
deal in the future theory OF solar phys
! los.
| DR.. Humphreys Of the University OF
| Virginia stated some Of the results OBJ
tanned by the investigations Of himself
| and assistants, in regard TO the lnf1u-
| ence Of pressure upon the wave lengths
OF lines in the spectrum. They had ex-
amined the arc spectre of about fifty Of
the elements, all being metallic. In
nearly nearly all cases there was found
| to be change in the positions or the
| principal lines.
| Professor WadsNorth made the per-
| picking statement that experiments car
ried on by Dr. Nicholson of the Univer-
| sity Of Chicago SHOWS variations OF re-
suit when the conditions are precisely
| the same or as nearly 30 as ii is possible
to make them. In reply Dr.. Humphreys
suggested that the interior collisions of
| molecules may alter the total of heat en-
ergy, and seemed inclined to offer this
as a possible explanation.
The subject Of action by American as
tronomers for securing an early republi-
cation Of the Durchmusterung Star
charts was brought up by Professor
Hale, and committee consisting OF
Professors Pickering and Snyder and
Father Hagan was appointed to take
charge of the matter.
Professor Doolittle described the meth
DDS OF observation used in the latitude
work at the tower observatory Of the
University Of Pennsylvania.
Professor Reese spoke of recent work
done in the effort to find more correct
values of measurement, ana then spoke
at length on the measurement OF the
Rutherford which were turned over to
Columbia College in 1884. and since then
have been in process OF measurement
under the direction of Drs. jacob and
Davis. II is found that the plates can
be measured at the present day with as
much accuracy as when they were taken
many years ago, the Oldest being made
in 1872. Professor Humphreys stated
the study Of the trails Of circumpolar
stars has been taken up, jacob develop
ing the Mathematical formula needed,
ard Dr.. Duner has sent a number OF
plates from Helsngfors, which have
been measured with highly satisfactory
results, the position Of the pole being de-
termined from nine of them. with re
suits which do not disagree more than
second of arc.
Professor Pickering described the
operation Of photogra phing the circum-
polar stars with rigidly fixed telescope
al the Cambridge observatory, which ne
regards as very trustworthy for fixing
the position Of the pole by measures of
the trails left by stars or the photograph
plate, az well as tife positions of the stars
themselves.
Interest in the evening session center
ed about Professor E. E. Barnard's Illus
trated astronomical lecture. Professor
Barnard confessed 10 having been an
amateur photographer at 9 years OF age,
and many Of the views shown were TAX
en- as far back as 1879. Many of Pro-
fesSor Barnard's discoveries in the ariel
region are attributed TO his expert
knowledge of photography. His collec-
ton OF nebulae and comet photographs
IS one of the most complete in the
world. In the collection are many rare
and highly valued plates and these were
projected on a screen stretched across
the library.
II have had the greatest success in
astronomical photography" said Pro-
fe.sor Barnard, with comparatively
small lenses. Before dry plates were in
vented I received very unsatisfactory re-
suits. Along in 1879 and 1850 the dry
plates took the place OF the wet ones
and / obtained excellent results. The
lens with which most OF my best photo
graphs were made Is six inches in diam
eter and was purchased by the Lick Oh
servatory for few dollans from a San
Francisco photographer. Fur or five
hours exposure is required to get the
mosi satisfactory results. In order 10
keep perfect focus the camera is fitted
with a clockwork, which moves with the
same relative speed as the earth re-
wolves. For many years labored 20 OBJ
tain perfect picture o. the milky way
and recently have secured a number.
Previous TO the application OF photo
graphy IN astronomy II was thought that
neoulae were not found in the milky
vav. but il has since been SHOWN that
in certain portions OF the milky way
enormous messe. OF gaseous natter are
found.
According 70 the nebuise theory o., !
the sara have a. one time been nothing !
but mas<e. OF gas. AMI each s-ars hs> |
since been evolved from this chaotic |
sists. Many ne5ulae bodies which are |
invisible through the telescope have been |
registered On the photographs plates. |
Many other important discoveries
should be credited 10 Photography. nots-
bly, tie nature AMI acton u comets. L
was once supposed that the movements /
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