The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1903-08-02

Heights. Ever since it's discovery by
NJ. Borelly, a young Marseilles astron-
omer, on July 81. the staff of the Obser-
vatory has been taking photographs.
making observations, busy with all the
varied means of astronomical study at
their disposal AS a result, the "Nauti-
cal Almanac" will have a complete and
accurate description of this latest sky
visitor. The work of observing the
comet is still in progress and is Of the
most interesting character to the scient-
list and layman as well.
The Big Telescope.
a Times man found Prof Walter W.
Dinwiddie at the Observatory building
where the big telescope is housed.
This" said the professor. as he led
the way to a large pair OF folding
doors, ''is the observatory proper"
When the doors are flung open you
pass under the great white dome which
is so unmistakable from the outside.
You do not need to be told that this is
the telescope-cne glance at the long
tube, towering in the gloom of the
0CA4Ss Win AAS L4AA+AluO6 VI SCtSWSs
brass work, and levers, is enough. The
giant spy glass rests on a pillar of net
al, surrounded by a maze of steel shafts,
pulleys, and mechanical paraphernalia
not to be comprehended by the unme-
chanical mind. The purpose of this pill
lar is TO move and operate the tele-
scope. The room is fioored with wood,
the boards are thin, and of rich, deep
brown; otherwise it is severely plain.
It's little cloudy to see the comet
tonight, said Prof. DinWiddie. land by
the way that's one of the things we have
to contend with here in Washington. AS
rule. the atmosphere in this latitude
is cloudy and observations are hard to
get. I'll bring the telescope round, -
and he gave a tug on the thick rope
swung over a pulley on the telescope
stand. The long tube swung noiselessIy
down. Another tug at a convenient rope
and long slit opened in the dome; a
turn OF a lever and the flooring rose
slowly, steadily and with a gentle mo-
ton. 1t was impossible to feel that you
were rising until you happened to notice
with start how near the great leather
armchair was coming to the eyeplece
OF the telescope.
Finally the motion was stopped and
the professor peered through the tele-
scope. 1T seems too cloudy TO see the
comet. Take look
This is the instrument we could use
in studying the comet for the more i'm
portant observations. but at present
Prof. Morgan is at work with the 70
inch equatorial Those bright lines in
the field? They serve somewhat the
same purpose as the lines in the field of
transit. We use them TO determine
the relative position of the body we are
observing. This device in the center Of
the telescope stand is a. clock and con-
trolls the movement of the tube, so once
the telescope is set on a star 1t will fol-
low 1t right round the sky. You have
to move the dome, though, about every
fifteen minutes; in fact, never heard
of a dome, even in the larger obserya-
tories, which was automatic.
A Fine Instrument.
This is very large glass. Before the
Lick and Yerkes observatories were
built, it was the largest in the country
Its diameter IS twenty-six inches, but
the Lick telescope measures thirty
six and the Yerkes forty. Just a mo-
ment and I'll let you out" The profess
sor pulled the rope once more and the
folding doors rose into view.
In passing out you cannot help but
notice the leathern arm chair which
stands in a convenient position for the
observer. The padded headrest, arms
and foot stool are very suspicious; they
seemed TO tell In chorus of the many
hours spent by the patient observer, his
eye fixed on the heavenly bodies.
The Superintendent Office.
From the observatory proper to the
main building is only a short stroll
along the broad concrete walks, set be-
tween trim lawns. Captain Chester
VIII be able to give you exactly what
We are doing in regard to the comet. D
said Prof. Dinwiddie. This way" and
he led the way up the wide stone stairs
and along the long, still corridors.
fioored with small blocks of hardwood
There was a quiet air of study about
the interior of the main building; even
the big clock on the first floor told of
the seconds in a low voice.
Come in. said a voice from within
and The Times man entered, to find
Captain Chester. the naval officer In
charge, sitting at his wide desk, which
was piled high with papers. The room
is large. with the pictures of famous
astronomers about the walls, and
lighted from without by two deep win
dows.
This is Prof. George II. Peters. an
astronomical student of attachments,
our astronomical photographer. Pray
be seated said Captain Chester.
What is the observatory doing in re-
gard to the comet? That's a question ]
cant answer in one word. You see
first and foremost, we are here TO bring
astronomy to the service of the navy
and so we prepare the Nautical AL
manac. test ships clocks and fine
chronometers, and get out maps OF the
heavens. Now, at first sight, the comet
may not seem to have very much bear
ing on the navy, but IL is impossible to
say what disturbance 1t may have on
the position of the heavenly bodies, and
remember II Is by these that the sailor
gets his reckoning. So, for this reason
the OhGarVat0rV is STUDYING the