New-York tribune., 1900-12-14

line OF sight. A year later Professor Keeler went
70 the Allegheny (Penn.) Observatory as direc-
tor, and Professor Campbell succeeded him at
Mount Hamilton as astronomer in charge OF the
spectroscopic department. Many changes have
since occurred IN the star OF the Lick Observa-
tory. but Professor Campbell has remained
there continuously for nearly ten years.
One OF his first notable achievements
set OF studies OF the spectra OF the new star in
Auriga and OF nebule. from which he was able
10 show that this Nova" had been converted
into nebula before its temperance in 1892
The nebular character OF new stars in Norma,
sagittarius and Aouila was also pointed out by
him.
Professor CsmpbelTs photographs OF comet
spectra have recorded about twenty new bright
lines. while those Of the Orion nebula revealed
twenty-five or thirty such lines He also diseov-
cred that the hydrogen lines are more corspic-
uous in the outlying portions OF the Orion and
other nebuIse than IN the denser. central parts.
Much attention has been given TO the spectra OF
a peculiar class Of stars. the Wolf-Rayet; and
one Of these bodies. Cygnus. was found 20 have
an extensive atmosphere Of incandescent hydro
gen. Professor Campbelrs spectroscopic obser-
vations OF Mars LED him 20 conclude that the
atmosphere Of that planet is very much lighter
than the earth's
The principal task on which the new Director
has been engaged since 1885. and which VIII re-
quire several years more labor 10 complete is
the determination Of the motions Of stars by
means OF the D. o. Mills spectroscope attached
to the great Lick telescope. The velocities Of
about 325 stars have been measured The re-
suits VIII be used il the near future 10 determine
the motion OF the solar system through space,
the average distance OF the stars and other
fundamental facts OF stellar science.
As byprOducts OF the observations, several
highly interesting discoveries have been made.
han ~
variable velocity. sometimes approaching ana
again receding from the observer. They are re-
vOlving around invisible companions. The nrst
magnitude star Capella. is double star, so
close that the two components cannot be sepa-
Is l04 days. The Pole Star is a triple. although
only one star can be seen; two cornponents re-
volve around each other IN three Gays ano
twenty-three hours, and these reVolVe around a
third in q period Of several years. Kappa Pegasi,
the shortest known period double star In which
the two stars are visible requires eleven years
70 complete one revolution. One Of these COM
ponents is a spectroscopic double having
period Of only six days Professor Canppeu mas
made the wholly unexpected discovery that one
out of every nine or ten stars has spectre
seopic binary; that Is, a double, whose char-
acter IS detected only by the spectroseope: ano
show the companion distinct from the pri-
mary orb
Professor Campbell was in charge Of the
Croker Eclipse Expedition from the Lick OBJ
servatory 10 India in lS91-'9s and had eleven
assistants. He was also al the head OF the one
70 Georgia in 1900. with fifteen assistants BON
eNpeditions were very successful.
He has been senior astronomer in the Lick OBJ
servatory since 1898 and on the death OF Pro-
fesscr Keeler in August last. he was naoe act
ing director. large number OF recommend
stions that ne be promoted 20 the vacant once
came 20 the regents Of the University OF Cali
fornla from eminent astronomers elsewhere, so
thar the choice was really made for the Lick
Observatory committee by those best Qualineo
10 judge OF his merits. His selection was unanl-
nous so far as the authorities OF the observ-
atory were concerned. The honorary degree OF
doctor Of science was conferred upon Professor
Campbell il June 1900. by the Western Uni
versity Of Pennsylvania, the institution whose
famous observatory has been presided over by
Professors Langley, Keeler and Wadsworth. he
Is an assistant editor Of The Astrophyslcal
Journal" published by the University OF CHI
csRo