The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1910-04-12
Worlds Biggest Reflector
Cooling Of-Will Go
to Mt. Wilson.
ANDREW CARNEGIE
TO PROVIDE DOME
Promises TO Play Important Part
In Astronomical
Science.


riodicaI an article written by an Eng
lishman seriously discussing the theory
that Andrew Carnegie and DIT George
z. Hale had built the observatory on
Mount Wilson in an endeavOr to get a
corner on solar energy The article
has caused amusement in scientific
circles, where the Nj. Wilson Observa-
tory is looked upon as the greatest
contribution that has yet been made to
the science Of astronomy
In spite Of the fact that the big
snow telescope" IS invisible from Los
Angeles. there is probably little con-
ceUtiou here Of the Importance the OBJ
servaI8ry promises TO play IN the de-
veIopment Of astronomical science The
coming Of the famous astronomers Of
the world this summer for cOnven-
ton here win do more 10 call attention
10 the progress Of Los Angeles as a
scientific center than anything that has
Yet occurred
VIII Be News item.
Within a month or six weeks there
will be an stem or news at the OBJ
servatory which viii interest the entire
world. It VIII be known at that time
whether the IC0-iuCh lens recently cast
in France Is 10 be success OF not.
4 II be new secrets Of the heavens viii
be revealed a. soon as It can be set
I'D on Mt Wilson
The attempt to cast the big reflector
was once before. made and the result
was a failure. II takes several months
for the big casting 70 COOL ana me
second one Is in that process now The
first reports are that II viii probably
come out all right
Mr. CaTneEle'S recent visit 10 Mount
Wilson means that the dome Tor TINS
new instrument viii be provided without
question The success Of the 6O-inSh
reflector now IN use assures the sup
port Of the Carnegie Institution and Its
founder The new building VIII be
expensive and viii complete the con-
structiOn so far as Dr. Hale's plans 60
The original plans for the observatory
are already fulfilled in the equipment in
daily use
Difficulties to Be Overcome
Some idea Of the difficulties TO be
overcome in mounting the big lens that
Is coming viii be gained from the fact
that II weighs five tons This piece Of
glass must be hung so that II VIII move
with perfect ease III order to be kept
IN a fixed position by the clockwork at
tachment which OverCOmes the motion
OF the earth Dr- Hale's invention
Z r.
q principe in use on the 69-inch lens
which weighs one ton
Astronomers originally doubted the eff
hCienCy Of the larger lenses It has been
demonstrated that the speCtra Of the
stars are increased in q ratio CORES
pOnding 20 the size OF the lens, and
with the 1o0-inch disc there are re-
WaTka bic possibilities of developing new
facts in regard 10 this universe
This lens, weighing i've tons, will have
10 DC transported 10 the TOP OF noun
tain d mile high. where tons Of the
original material for construction had
20 be packed over a narrow trail on
the backs OF buTrOs- The wagon trail
built for the purpose Of getting the 60
inch lens 10 the top viii again prove
indispensable.
An interesting operation IS going on
az present II the construction OF a VERT
cal solar telescope II was found that
LOT longer observations OF certain
plelOIleLlla OF the sun the snow tele-
scope did not offer the best conditions
a-IhouEh II fulfilled the purpose for
which IL was built
To Build Vertical Tower.
In order TO test his idea Of a vertical
tower Dr. Hale had a water tower
erected and made steady by guy ropes
with this he obtained such good results
that he decided upon a vertical tower.
This IS 20 be 80 feet las height in order
10 give a focal length Of 10 feet from
the reflector 10 the point where the
image is recorded. With the equipr,ent
he viii be able 70 get an image OF the
sun sixteen inches IN diameter.
In order 10 use a tower 165 feet in
height for Photographic purposes and
long exposures where the subject - Is
simply a ray OF right. II vas necessary
TO resort 70 novel means for avoiding
vibration II took months OF wrestling
with the problem 10 work out the com
paTatively simple idea Of erecting a
~ p IL ne =
touch each other The outer rov-e-
which takes all the vibration of the
wind, is built OF hollow shafts The
base rests upon concrete blocks Haaff-c-
loosely in the sand The inner toTve- Il
built within the hollow shafts hut
touches them at no point and the foun-
datiOns OF this are carried down 70 solid
rock. The inner tower supports the in
struments. which VIII probably be ia
the most absolute state of. reDose thar
has been established against the In
fuence Of the elements
Enlarged SpectToscope-
With this instrument. the sDectroscope
Of the suns rays VIII be increased from
a length OF eighteen feet TO seventy
five feet giving a broader opportunity
for analysis tbs tower viii be com
pIeted in time for use at the astro-
nomicaI congress this summer.
There are difficulties even on the top
ferrupted view OF the sun ANY one who
has visited a mountain peak on bright
warm day has noticed the heat waves
rising from the exposed earth. which
heats Up very rapidly- These waves in
lerfere with the. Steadiness OF the image,
but in raising the rejecting mirror 10 a
height of TO feet and taking the sun s
image vertically Il Is hoped TO avoid
this difficulty.
Alice in wonderland found no more
remarka bic state Of affairs than the
Iaynan who has 2 sufficient smattering
Of scientific training 70 appreciate what
he sees on Mount wilson sun spots
are discovered, QUaTri6d out bottled,
preserved, taken into the laboratory on
q try. viviseCted- analyZed-in fact
are treated Ike a specimen Of ore or
any other inorganic substance. in the
course of time, when sufficient evidence
has been accumulated the world may
look for further interesting announce
ments from Mount wilson
SEEING IS KNOWING.