Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1910-09-06
MAP OF THE STARS
Naval Observatory Has Com
pIeted Monumental Work.
BEGUN BEFORE CIVIL WAR
Observations Suspended, But Begun
in 1893 and Completed.
OF INTEREST TO SCIENTISTS
Germany Once Offered to Help, But
Proffer Was Refused-Eminent
Men Participated.
BEGUN BEFORE CIVIL WAR
OF INTEREST TO SCIENTISTS


and Washington zone catalogue OF stars
has been completed by the United States
naval observatory and will be ready soon
for distribution. This huge work, which
catalogues all the stars which may be
seen from the observatory in the Wash
ington zone, was begun before the civil
| war, when the naval observatory was
first established, under the charge of
| Capt. NJ. F. Maury
/ When the civil war broke out the work
on the big catalogue was suspended. and
years went by before IL was again taken
up. When Rear Admiral Charles H. Da-
Wis was superintendent of the observa-
tory in 1893. Germany wrote to the United
States. asking what was being done
| about the catalogue of stars, and
/ onering to send German sci
/ entists to this country to complete the
work which had been begun under Capt.
Maury. so great was the desire that the
work should be completed Admiral Da-
\ Wis replied that this country had scien-
lists quite capable of doing this work.
| and Germany's offer was rejected But
renewed interest and activity was inspired
| and work again begun.
The completion of this work by a
younger class of scientists, and embrace
| Ing portion of Prof. Maury's original
conception of the observatory work of
making Washington zone catalogue of
all the stars that could be observed in
this hemisphere marks distinctive epoch
| in the history of the great national sci
entific institution.
Eminent Names on List.
The list of observers who made the OBJ
| servations for this catalogue is composed
of such eminent astronomers as Profs.
Newcomb. Hall. Hardness, Eastman. Hol-
den, Frisbie. Skinner and Paul. some of
| whom have passed away and others re-
tired with the exception of Prof H. NJ.
Paul. the last of those active astronomers
who were engaged on this original cata-
logue work of the observatory. Among
other assistant astronomers who have
been connected with the observatory since
1856. some of whom are now in other
| fields of scientific work. are J. A. Rog-
gers. c. Thirion, DIR. c. Abbey, DR. Or
mond Stone of the University Of Virginia,
DR.. II. S. Pritchet of the Carnegie Insti-
tute. Miles Rock, now deceased w. G..
Winlock. u. S. N, and Prof. Asaph Hall.
jr., now dean of the observatory also aid
ed in this work.
Since the mounting Of the great equa-
torial at the new building in 1893. the
same general idea of research work was
begun. first by Prof S. j. Brown, who
made observations of the satellites Of sat-
urn and got out a new value for the
mass of the planet. He also observed
double stars and made an attempt to turn
the instrument in spectroscopic work; but
on account of the peculiar color of the
object glass it was not we'll suited to this
character Of observations.
Work of Prof. See.
Prof. Brown was followed by Prof T. j.
]. See, who made series of observa-
lions on the satellites and diameter of the
planets. The idea was to secure all pos
sible data regarding the fundamental con-
stants of the solar system and to keep
up continuously such observations as were
not to be secured elsewhere in this coun-
try.
After Prof. Sees transfer from the OBJ
servatory, Prof. Rice and Astronomer
Hammond kept UP the same class of
work. but gave considerable attention to
| the observation of asteroids.
A good many of the older asteroids
had not been followed for years, and had
become lost. Many of these were looked
up and reobserved. so new and more cor
rect tables Of their motions could be pre-
pared. Considerable time was given also
to observing asteroids discovered by Rev.
Mr.. Metcalf.
All of the current phenomena were OBJ
served by this instrument. also a good
many OSCILLATIONS. the idea being that
the OSCILLATIONS should be finally col
lected and used in correcting the tables
OF the moon. The fact Is that for good
many years the place in the sky has not
exactly corresponded with the tables
The ordinary observation of the meridian
circle Is subject to errors that are some
what alike to all meridian circles. The
observations of occultations refer the
place OF the moon to known stars. and
change the character of the principal err
rors OF the observations.
The discussion of these observations
of occutations is expected to make some
Improvement in the tables of the moon.
With the small equatorial the same
character Of general work has been car
ried on.