The times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1897-1901, 1901-04-21
GREAT RESULTS EXPECTED
important Scientific Investigations
at the Smithsonian.
Delicate Instruments Housed in
Barn Like Structurc-True Rcin-
ton Between the sun and Earth
The Possibilities of Astrophysics.


The Possibilities of Astrophysics.
The casual visitor notices at the rear
of the rich brown stone building of the
Smithsonian Institution a structure re-
sembling a large barn of by no means
ornamental design. The barn is surround
ed by wooden fence, in which minute
investigation reveals gate, usually lock-
ed. at which one may knock as long as
one pleases without apparently producing
any Impression whatever upon anypouE
inside Should the gate be opene ana the
visitor actuated by curiosity, enter the
interior of the barn, first passing through
a muddy yard, he will see some curious
brass and steel affairs in the otherwise
almost bare rooms.
Upon the walls are crude delineations
which remind the visitor Of the attempts
of a cataleptic person at making straight
lines These are really traces of the mag
netic needle. and, as it would appear,
have vast and important meanings, which
are for the most part generally unappre-
ciated.
Just as the visitor is curiously eXamin-
ing peculiar apparatus, or unintelligible
drawing he is likely to hear gruff voice
from somewhere wanting to know what
the intruder wants. Next appears
young man in his shirt sleeves, who is
the chief of the astrophysical observa-
tory (fOr such is the imposing name of
the barn and its contents). All visitors
who happen to stray into the barn are
referred for information concerning it to
Prof. Langley. Secretary of the Smith
scnian Institution. Prof. Langley is the
founder of the observatory. In the work
done there he takes great interest and
pride.
The general object of astronomy said
Prof Langley. THE oldest of the sciences,
was until very late period. to study the
places and motions of the heavenly bodies,
with little special reference to the wants
of man ina his daily life. other than i'll the
application of the study to the purposes
of navigation. Within the past generation,
and almost coincidentally with the discoN-
cry of the spectroscope, a new branch OF
astronomy has arisen. which is some
times called astrophysics, and the purpose
of which is distinctly different from that
Of finding the places of the stars, or the
moon, or the sun, which is the principal
end in view at such an observatory as
that. for instance. AT Greenwich.
The distinct object of astrophysics is,
in the case Of the sun. for example. not to
mark its exact place In the sky, but to
find out how it affects the earth and the
wants OF man on the earth. how its heat is
distributed. and how it. in fact. affects not
only the seasons and the farmers crops
hut the whole system Of living things on
that In a physical sense it, and almost 1t
alone, literally first creates and then mod
ifies them in almost every possible way
we have, however, arrived AT a
Knowledge that the luminary does this
without yet knowing. in most cases, how
il aoes SO. and we are sure of the great
Importance of this last acquisition, while
stili largely in ignorance OF how to obtain
it. Ne are. for example, sure that the
latter Knowledge would form, among
other things a scientific basis for meteor
fHfaf FNQa4
OF good and bad harvests, so far as these
depend on natural causes. independent of
man. and yet We are still very far from
being able 10 make such prediction ana
we cannot dc so until we have lei ned
more by such studies as those in question.
s'Certain knowledge of the connection
between SOAR and earthly phenomena ~
UuQueStiOnably Of the highest Importance,
and it is to such a knowledge OF causes
with such practical consequences that
the Investigations of the astrophysicat ct
serfa-ory aim and tend.
The connection between solar and
earthly phenomena to which Prof Lang
ley alludes may be illustrated in the one
instance Of magnetic storms on this
planet. which are invariably co-eNistent
with. or preceded by. spots on the sun.
4 stro-p physics, however. by no means
confines its investigation TO the sun,
though that is the most important
subject OF its study and one that
has been undertaken by nearly every
leading government Of the civilized
observatory in Mendon, and Germany one
on an equal scale in Potsdam. while Eng
land. Italy. and other countries have also,
at tn euatiOnal expense, maintained for
many years institutions for the prosecu-
ton OF 4strophysical science. The work
of the astTophySical observatory OF the
Smithsonian is, to a large degree. supple
mentary to the spectroscoplc work con-
Quoted in the leading astronomical OBJ
servatories Of the country
1t is now well understood that nearly
Il fgn H.
the confines Of this planet, not only from
changes Of the seasons or OF rain. or the
movement OF wind or storm, but every
manifestation Of life from that of the
lowest vegetable form, up through ami
nal existence. to that of man. including
all his works and industries, comes from
the sun. so that man himself and all his
works are, in physical sense. strictly its
product.
One % the most curious and important
Instruments in the astrophysical observa-
tory is the bolometer, invented by Prof
Langley. This is delicate instrument
for measuring heat. and consists OF a
metallic tape. usually about a third of an
Inch long, but narrower and far thinner
than a human hair. through which an
electric current is kept constantly pass
ing. II is found that the slightest change
In the heat which falls on this tape Will
affect q distant galvanometer connect ed
with it. so that as the effects Of vision are
no way concerned. but only Of heat. this
device may be compared. hguratiYely. 10
eye NfaCn sees III the dark. moreover.
this thread can also be pointed with
extreme precision, as in the case Of a
vertical thread Of an ordinary transit in
strument. the greater sensitiveness is ac-
companied by a corresponding accuracy
Of measurement.
This instrument can indicate change
of temperature OF one-millionth OF d de-
gree. and il has the incidental advantage
that it can be pointed so to tell within
a fraction Of a minute in what part of
the spectrum the change 10 which 1t is
Iensitive Is found This wonderfully
minute tape is moved through that por-
ton Of the solar spectrum which is in
visible Here the minutest changes OF
color are indicated by the galvauometeI
needle. which Is controlled by the current
passing through the tape. the darker
tints being colder. the lighter warmer
The final result is thus the same as II 2
thermometer could be constructed much
finer than a human hair. from which all
these indications could be read on such
an extended scale that the millionth part OF
a degree would be visible. the thermometer
falling or rising. according il meets
one Of these dark and cold lires or goes
into a warmer region. This rise or fall
indicates then, the presence of such a
line, whether the eye can see il or not
and passing out of the visible into the
Invisible region. this method remains
trustworthy where the eve and photog
raphy both fail.
The solar spectrum. Il should be under.
stood by the non-technical reader. is mere
~ the prismatic rays into which the white
light Of the sun is decomposed by the spec
troScope which throws them on a screen
cate the presence Of certain Well-ascer
tanned chemical agents in the suns atmos
phere But there is certain portion Of
the spectrum which, before the inventor
OF t;.s boiometer. II was found impossible
10 analyze by sight, as the distinctions be
tween the colors were too iine TO be notice