The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1901-11-20
Prof. G.. w. Ritchey of Yerkes
Observatory
Has Exposedthe Hidden Secrets
of the Universe.
NEBULAR HYPOTHESIS
He Has Demonstrated to Be the
Correct Theory.
One of the Greatest Discoveries
Ever Made i'm Astronomy.

Chicago, Nov. 20.-Prof. G. w. Ritch-
ey, of Yerkes observatory, is reported
to have made a discovery in astronomy
which will make himself and the OBJ
servatory world famous. The discovery,
in brief, is the proof of what is known
as the nebular theory, and Prof.
Ritchey appears to have reduced to
matter of certitude what has hereto
fore been merely a brilliant hypothesis.
It is claimed that he has done this in
obtaining Photographic evidence of evo-
luton among the planetary bodies
The Yerkes observatory is part of the
University of Chicago, though located
at Williams Bay, Lake Geneva, Wis. 1t
was endowed by the multi millionaire
Yerkes of this city, who is at present
in London seeking to revolutionlze
British methods of urban transporta-
ton.
Prof Ritchey's observations, it is
claimed, not only prove the truth of the
celebrated nebular theory of creation
announced by the famous Frenchman,
La Place, and of the widely entertained
belief that the solar system, and even
star clusters, have been formed by mil
lions of years of slow evolution from
great bodies of gaseous matter floating
in the inconceivable abysses of space,
but also prove that a nebula, with q
star for nucleus, changes it's shape
and the quantity of light it emits, and
that these changes are so rapid as to
be observable within the compass OF
few hours.
Astronomers have long believed that
the nebulae were the matrices of solar
systems and star clusters like our own,
but no observer has been able to see
the slightest sign of change in the
structure. This has now been done by
Prof Ritchey, who is busily engaged in
preparing for the technical journals an
announcement of his discovery.
which Prof.
Ritchey has made his observations is
the mysterious star Nova of PerseuS,
which suddenly appeared last February
in the northern sky, blazing with
strange light in a place where there
had been no star before. Its light rap
idly increased until it became a star
of the first magnitude. Then it gradu-
ally faded away until now it is only of
the sixteenth magnitude. AT present it
is altogether invisible to the unaided
vision. On the night, Of September 90
Prof. Ritchey photographed Nova of
Perseus by means of the 24-inch re-
fector at the observatory. The mega
tive disclosed the fact that the star was
surrounded by a nebula "a fact which
had been previously shown by another
observer. But on the plate made by
Prof. Rttchey after an exposure of three
hours and fifty minutes there were two
fairly dense wisps of nebulaosity toward
the west with a curve to the north
merging into the convolutionS of the
nebula. This was a startling fact, but
Prof. Ritchey waited patiently for a
favorable night to secure another mega
tive. The looked-for opportunity came
last Wednesday night. November 13,
when for seven hours Prof. Ritchey ex-
posed his plate to the light of the mys-
terious star.
When he looked at the negative ne
observed a fact in which he at once
recognized the proof SO long sought
and so ardently wished for by observers
everywhere. The spots of density in
the west field of the nebula had moved.
Never before had this amazing fact
been found, and Prof. Ritchey who at
once saw the immense value of the dis
coverv was eratified beyond words.