The Hawaiian star. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu]) 1893-1912, 1903-03-06
AN ASTRONOMICAL EXPEDITION.

BERKELEY, Feb 24-The b. o. Mills astronomical exped-
ton the southern hemisphere after spending years making
preparations for the trip is ready to depart and will sail from
San Francisco for Santiago the Pacific Mail steamship Peru
Saturday February 18Th The expedition will be carried
through by University of California astronomers who have made
all their arrangements to stay two years in Chile completing their
observations that region Director William Wallace Campbell
the Lick Observatory had intended go with the expedition
and superntend the installing of the dome and instruments
of the low hills outside Of Santiago He injured while
recently testing apparatus San Diego and will have
this plan The who has been chosen to head the party IS
William II. Wright assistant astronomer at Mount Hamilton
He will be followed in April and assisted in his work by Harold
X Palmer formerly fellow the Lick Observatory and pres
instructor in practical astronomy at Berkeley.
The mission OF this important expedition is OF vast interest to
scientific world as the observations will go far
ward settling the perpexng problem Of the motion Of the solar
system through space Since 1906 the the Lick
Observatory have been engaged in the definite work of measuring
the ne-osigt veoces OF 400 of the brighter This
has all been done with the powerful spectograph photographic
specroscope presented to the observatory by d. O. Mills The
results for these recently combined order effect
preliminary solution of the solar motion and found that
the solar system moving approximately toward the southern
part of the constellation of the Lyre with speed of and
one-ha miles per second.
Director Campbell in commenting the data secured says
"he result for speed doubt very the TRUTH but there
is little question that the assigned direction OF motion capable
considerable Improvement Its weakness the fact
that the observations distributed the sky The
stars between 80 degrees south decnaton and the South pole
Of the sky without representation in the solution Hence
the strong desiraby of organizing expedition
southern hemisphere tor the purpose OF observing the bright stars
i'll the region OF the sky accessible from Mount Hamilton
The plan the veloes of 800 400
that quarter of the sky The photographs obtained in Chile
will be to Mount Hamilton for discussion
and expected that the combination of the specroscopc
suits obtained in California and Santiago will lead very
satisfactory solution of the doubtful points"
The important supplementary work made possible by the
generosity of D. O. Mills who in December 1000 provided
fund OF $4,000 plus for unexpected expenses for
this expedition just about to sail Since that
rushed on the manufacture OF the special instruments designed
the observations The telescope for the the expedition
reflector of the Casgran FORM 1t will be the largest reflector
systematic at the present time The telescope
equatoay and the specogaph rgdy attached
end OF the tube steel dome thirty feet diameter will cover
the instrument The lenses and mirrors for the valuable piece Of
mechanism have just been carefully tested San Diego
last corrections in their adjustment made At their destination
the University OF California astronomers have the that
they will be cordially received and assisted by the Chilean Gov
eminent which has offered admit the instruments duty
and has expressed its anxiety further the purposes
petition in every possible way.