The Washington herald., 1909-07-12

/ BY all these investigations. Newcomb
I has elucidated. in a mastery way. the
I actual state OF the theory Of the motion
/ Of our satellite
/ zone Of his most original researches
! Is relative 20 Hyperion. Saturn's seventh
| satellite IN the various volumes Of
/ The astronomical papers Tor the use OF
/ the American Nautical Almanac New
/ comb has published a great number Of
( memoirs. HenCeforth science win profit
/ by the fruits OF his immense labor. con-
/ sist.ng OF The tables OF the planets Mer-
l curry, Venus. Mars. and the earth
"His activity has embraced the most
( diverse branches Of astronomy Not only
I has he given a great scope % she intel
/ lectual movement 0f this country. but he
/ has also contributed IN a very successful
[ manner 70 elevate the level OF the civil
| ization Of our age. eurichIng the domain
! Of science with beautiful and durable
/ cOnQUests
Versed in All Science.
Prof Milton UpdegraT. Z. s n. Su-
! lperintendent OF the Nautical Almanac Of
fee In speaking OF Prof. Sswcomb. said;
[ Prof NewcOmb-s great usefulness as
/ a scientific man is due in large part
10 the fact that he combined great schoI-
! arship and a wide knowledge Of books
with an intensely practical and Just ap-
/ probation OF the true relation OF scientific
/ work 70 the needs OF mankind In addl-
tion % this he was extremely versatile,
/ and took Up with almost equal facility
I work in mathematics, astronomy. and &C.
I OlOmic science. and has veu-ured Wirl
( success into the field Of fction.
The most important work which lie
. HHarr H~ rr
which his name VIII 60 down 10 history.
/ IS an almost complete rec0nstruction OF
{ the theories Of the motions OF the bodies
l of the solar system This great work
/ involved az its foundation the complete
I revision Of the sO-callei constants Of
] astronomy. The distance OF The earth
I from the sun the displacement os the
earth in its orbit by the attraction OF
I The noon the displacement OF the stars
I due 70 the motion Of the earth combined
I with the motion OF ught which involves
/ the velocity OF light and space, the yearly
] procession or the eqU.nQXes; the ObliQCity
Y Of the ecliptic, the dimensions and the
masses Of the planets; all had 20 be
worked into a homogeneous system 70 be
used as a basis for the tables or the sun
+ and planets.
Prof Newcomb's natural abilities
7 In work OF this character were supple-
mented by the position 90 which he was
detailed as a professor OF mathematics IN
7 The navy as superintendent Of the Amer
I ican Nautical Almanac Office. This Of
/ dce. maintained by the government under
7 the control Of the Navy Department. IS
charged with the preparation and publ
cation Of the American Epnemeris and
I Nautical Almanac, which is one Of dve
national publications OF the kind issued
I hy the governments OF England. France.
Germany, spain. and the United States
Prepared Planetary Tables
The tables Of the sun and the planets
which were prepared by Prof Newcomb
or under his direction. are now used by
all the national ephemerides in the world
except that Of France Not only this. bur
in the later part OF his career there was
held in Paris. through the initiative y
Prof Newcomb. q conference OF The d.
rectors OF the national epheme-ldes above
mentioned, AZ which a plan or co-opera-
tion was outlined for securing Uniformity
IN the tables OF the sun. moon. and
planets. and Of the stars. The values OF
the principal constants in astronomy were
decided upon and agreed 20 by these con
ferees. and were subsequently used IN al
the national ephemerides. except. strange
~ say AAAE -A-l-r- AAc--A lt--eAa.r44> l--.-
Nautical Almanac, which shortly after
passed out from under the control q
Prof Newcoub through his retirement
The conference also requested Prof
Newconb TO prepare a list Of funda-
mental stars. the places CT which should
be used IN common by all the national
ephemerides. This work was done by
Prof Newcomb. and his star places also
are used by all the national ephemerides Z
except that Of Germany.
Before becoming superintendent Of the
American Ephemeris and Nautical Al
uanac. Prof. Newc0mb was on duty as
an astronomer ar che Naval Observatory. I
and f0E a year OF two was in charge or
the principal instrument. the 9-inch tran
SIT circle He later on was for a time in
charge Of the large equatorial telescope I
During this time he gained a wide rep
utaIiOn as a practical astTOnOmer- But
the most adequate statement concerning /
The work Of Prof. Newcomb IS that which I.
he himself makes in his book entitled T.
The "reminiscences Of an AstrOn0merr 4
published IN 1903 In this book he Justly I
and fairly sets forth his varied and IN (
teresting experiences during a career OF .
forty years as prominent astronomer /
and a government Official
The above mentioned combination OF 4
wide and profound scholarship with a .
most sagaclOus and practical mastery o. \
the needs Of science. and a general over
sight Of the whole field Of astronomy.
with continued effort IN the direction OF .
harmonizing the work OF different astrOn-
omers in order 10 maze II more efficient.
has given Prof NeWc0mb g reputation
as an astronomer which Is without an
equal al the present tine. II IS not too
much 70 say that his name stands higher
in astronomy than that % any other
man