Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1906-04-04
WILL STUDY THE sun
Observations on Radiation to
BE Continued.
A WORK OF PURE SCIENCE
Object Of Mr.. Abbot's Trip to Cali
fornia.
CARRYING ON LANGLEY,s TASK
Possibility Of Making Long Range
Weather Forecasts Involved-value
Of the Contemplated Researches.


1t has been decided by the Smithsonian to
send Mr.. c. G. Abbot OF the institution next
month to the astro-pnysicaI observatory of
the Carnegie Institution. in California, to
continue the observations on the radiation
of the sun that were carried on there last
summer. Mr.. Abbot will probably pick up
Mr.. Ingersoll OF the Wisconsin University
en- his way out to act az assistant a post
ton he filled very satisfactorily last sum
mer. The work of observation will be con-
tinued till about October and will be checked
by simultaneous observations from the OBJ
servatory of the Smithsonian Institution, In
Washington.
The observations are in line with the work
that Professor Langley instituted They
will require period OF some years to es-
tablish what scientists now are pretty well
assured Of; namely, that there Is more or
less irregular variation In the suns radia-
ton caused by the greater or less permea-
biHty of the suns envelope. and that this
has definite effect on the earth's climate
The work Is about as near pure science as
enc can come to 1t, but. there is q practics-1
application ahead at the same time. It Is
no less than the possibility OF making long
range weather forecasts; that Is to say, pre-
preaching winter will be mild or severe and
whether the summer will be hot and dry
or cold and wet OF course this work OF
prediction is a matter of the future per-
haps the distant future. but 1t Is believed
that 1t can be DONE possibly with much
accuracy as the weather bureau now fore
casts the weather conditions twenty-four
hours in advance.
The Carnegie institution has an excep-
tionally fine location for it's astrophysical
observatory in California at Mount Wilson,
where 1t Is possible to carry on obserya-
tons In radiation under cloudless sky
almost every day through the summer. The
instruments for the work are almost all
there now. and 1t will be but small mat
ter to get the observations running again.
The Carnegie scientists have been very
courteous in putting their facilities at the
disposal of the Smithsonian, and good
summers work is expected.
The observations made in Washington are
carried on under much greater difficulties.
There are only few days in the summer
here when clouds and mists do not inter-
fere with the work. But 1t has been found
that the Washington observatory furnishes
a very satisfactory check on the California
observations.
Prof. Langley's Pet Work.
The details of the observations are too
technical to be Of much interest to the
general reader. but 1t may be said that the
line of research, which was Prof. Langley's
pet work, has already been acknowledged
by the whole scientific world to be very
important subject Tor investigation, BY the
instruments that have been devised the
personal equation of the operator is elm
mated almost altogether Every eminent
astronomer has a personal equation"
great observatories In the world. But the
observations In question are made to de-
pend as nearly as possible on mechanical
na the % tba
tons, are taken by clookwork throughout
the working day. 90 that the record is as
nearly tmpsrsonal as possible.
Observations are begun. say, In the morn
Ing, when the rays OF the sun have to travel
q long distance through the earths atmos-
pherio envelope. The point Of least resist
ance to the rays is reached when the sun
Is at the zenith. After that the length OF
their passage through the atmosphere In
creases till the sun sets. By leng series
of these observations 1t is possible to tell
with great accuracy just what proportion
by the earth's air. At the same time the
envelope of the sun itself is studied ana its
variations in density are observed. The
heat of the sun Is SO great that It is hard
to tell anything definite about conditions
there. It is estimated that the temperature
Of the sun itself Is about 5000 degrees CEN
tfgrade. and this IL about 5000 degrees
greater than any heat that can be pro-
duced on the earth even by the aid Of the
electric arc. But by q long series of OBJ
servations of the envelope 1t IS possible TO
tell what effect a given condition around.
the sun will have on the climate of the
earth. This is what science Is now work.
ing toward.
Prof LangIey's work along this line was
infinitely more important and extended
than the general public imagines All the
progress that had been made In extending
the study of the solar spectrum since the
time OF Sir Isaac Newton was either Prof.
Langley's personal work or directly foster
ed by his researches. The result is that the
extent spectrum as now known below the
red rays Is fifteen or sixteen times as great
work This study is directly In line with
the observations that will be continued
through the coming summer at Mt. Wilson
Scientists Estimate Of the Work.
There has been some speculation In the
newspapers recently about Congress cut
ting off the appropriation for the work OF
the astro-physical observatory. 1t il by no
means certain that this will even be seri-
ously discussed in Congress. But It may be
remarked that the same thing was suggest
ed In 1901. The way in which Prof. Langley
met the situation then will interest even
those not particularly versed in pure SCI
enee. When the suggestion about cutting
off the appropriation was made some OF the
senators with whom Prof Langley was on
terms OF intimacy asked him frankly what
was the good of it. anyhow. and was there
any use in keeping 1t up.
Prof. Langley replied something after this
fashion: 1T Is now principally q matter OF
pure science. I think 1t IL valuable. and Il
you ask me for a report on It. I tell you
frankly that shall report favorably. But 1t
seems to me IL you would get an outside re-
port on 1t from q few eminent scientific men
1t would be more satisfactory and conyinc-
Ing"
This sounded like pretty fair proposition
and the senators interested more In the
appropriation bill than In tie astro-physical
laboratory said SO.
Very weli.' said Prof. Langley, have
you any preferences as to who shall make
the report?'
the men making the report were OF recog-
nized standing. In that case how would
Lord Rayleigh and Lord Kelvin and Prof.
Simon Newconib DOR said the professor,
Keeling or half a dozen more names Of men
in about the same class With those mem
toned. Tho senators thought they would