The searchlight. [volume] (Culbertson, Mont.) 1902-current, 1910-05-13
MAKING LARGE LENS
New Reflector for Mount Wilson
Expected to Reveal Wonders.
Weighs Five Tons and Must % Car
risd Up Hill . Mile HiQh-Many
othieulties to BE Overcome
In Mounting.

appeared IN Q British peeiodical an
article written by an Englishman Sc
rfously discussing the theory that An
drew Carnegie and DR.. George E.
Hale had built the observatory on
Mount Wilson in an endeavor to get
corner on solar energy. The ar
ticle has caused amusement In scien-
tific circles. where the Mount VIII
son observatory is looked upon as the
greatest contribution that has yet
been made to the science OF astron-
omy.
In spite Of the fact that the big
snow telescope" is visible from Los
Angeles. there is probably little con.
ception here Of the Importance the
observatory promises to play in the
development Of astronomical science.
The coming Of the famous astron.
omers OF the world this summer for
convention here will do more to call
attention to the progress Of Los An
geles as a scientific center than any
thing that has yet occurred.
Within q month or six weeks there
will be an item Of news at the obser-
vatory which will interest the entire
world. It will be known at that time
whether the 100-inch lens recently
cast In France Is to be a success or
not II 1t is. new secrets OF the heav-
ems will be revealed as soon as 1t can
be set up on Mount Wilson.
The s:tempt to cast the big reflec-
tor was once before made and the
result was failure. It takes sew
eral months for the big casting to
cool and the second one is in that
process now. The first reports are
that 1t will probably come out all
right.
Mr.. Carnegie's recent visit to Mount
Wilson means that the dome for this
new instrument will be provided with.
out question. The success Of the CO.
inch reflector now in use assures the
support Of the Carnegie institute and
Its founder. The new building will
be expensive and-will complete the
construction so far as DR.. Hale's plans
go. The original plans for the obser-
vatory are already fulfilled in the
equipment In daily USE
Some idea of the difficulties to be
overcome in mounting the big lens
that is coming will be gained from
the fact that 1t weighs five tons. This
piece OF glass must be hung SO that
1t will move with perfect ease in or
der to be kept In fixed position by
the clockwork attachment which over
comes the motion OF the earth. DIR.
Hale's invention Is a steel bearing
floating in mercury. a principle in use
on the 60-inch lens which weighs one
.on.
Astronomers originally doubted the
efficiency Of the larger lenses. It has
been demonstrated that the spectra
of the stars are increased in a ratio
corresponding to the size of the lens.
and with the 100-inch disc there are
remarkable possibilities OF developing
new facts in regard to the universe.
This lens. weighing five tons. will
have to be transported to the top of
a mountain mile high. where tons of
the original material for construction
had to be packed over narrow trail
on the backs of burros. The wagon
trail built for the purpose OF getting
the 60inch lens to the top will again
prove indispensable.
An interesting operation IL going
on at present in the construction OF
vertical solar telescope. It was
found that for longer observations of
certain phenomena of the sun the
snow telescope did not offer the best
conditions. although It fulfilled the
purpose for which 1t was built.
In order to test his idea of a YER
tical tower. DR.. Hale had a water
tower erected and made steady by
guy ropes. With this he obtained
such good results that he decided up-
on a vertical tower. This Is to be
165 feet In height In order to give