The Coalville times. [volume] (Coalville, Utah) 1894-1923, 1899-01-13
Ito be contInued.)
ARE PERPINo ATANEw PLANET
Local Astronomers Take Observations Of
herr Wits star

"
Local Astronomer. Take Observations Of
herr wits star
Luckily Chicago has astronomers OF
its own, who can see as far and as
accurately into infinite space as can
the astronomers OF any other portion
OF the United States or OF Europe.
Professor Edward Il. Barnard Of tho
Chicago university and s. W. Burn
ham, once a professor. but now clerk
OF the United States district court in
this city, have a worldwide renown
as men OF science and keonest vision
for peerlng into the heavens. Being
great dlscoverers themselves In that
Held. so soon as MFR. witt. the German
astronomer. announced his discovery OF
new planet. they began at Geneva
lake search for II, which was not at
hrst rewarded by sight OF II. but by
much persevering they were at last
able to make out the strange object.
The original announcement OF this
new discovery was to the effect that
Mr.. Witt OF the 1lrania observatory.
Berlin, had discovered n minor plan
ct with so remarkable an orbit that
Astronomers in all parts OF the world
would be led TO give II earnest atten-
tlon. This Is already proved to be tho
case, as p. II. Cowell OF Greenwich
observatory. near London. has bestow-
ed much pains In investigating the lat
est discovered planet. and has In n
printed statement confirmed the most
that was said about II in Berlin as
Economical periodical. In all tho
United States there is equal interest.
All the large telescopes have been
pointed TO the quarter where Wits
planet was said TO be dlscernible. but
not all those that have used tho tele-
scopes have seen tho object OF their
quest. Mr.. Burnham In home authority
Tor saying that II ia 30 very small. and
nj the same time 30 very swift. that
II Ia almost impossible 10 sec II, and
next TO impossible TO keep eyes on II
When II has been seen. II looks like
one OF the smallest OF stars. and, said
Professor Barnard. may have been OBJ
served before and regarded as a star,
It's motion not having been noticed.
This was the case with far larger plan
ets' as Neptune. for instance. which
was observed erroneously az n star
Tor long period. The new planet ro-
wolves round the sun in a strongly
elliptieai orbit. between tho earth and
Mars. In li6 days. It Ia about as near
to the earth Us the moon. and is likely
TO DO OF great use In determining tho
exact distance OF the earth from tho
sun. It's discovery was purely acci-
dental. by photography n streak OF
iight was detected and then II was
known that not star. but a planet,
was In view. II seems that when as-
tronomers know what II Is they arc
looking Tor. and about where II is. they
have comparatively little difficulty in
nnding II. The streak OF light. very
snort and very faint. that was caught
IN the process OF photographlng, IA.
now that II Is known to be light ro-
lected from a planet. easily seen
through to the planet itself. But IL
moves so swiftly that IN barely two
niutea II may bo lost sight OF behind
ne hxed stars. Interesting as this
discovery is. Mr.. Burnham says II ia
'nly one OF $50 minor planets that
ave been discovered the past ten
ears But this, moro than any other.
ias an Interest OF its own, from its
'ooition on the constantly changing
nap OF the heavens. 40 near to our
arth. and also. apparently. 80 near TO
lars Every such discovery serves
tronsly TO stimulate the astronomers.
nd In that fact is promise continually
Z other discoveries In the future of
erhaps far greater Importance.