The Hawaiian gazette., 1910-05-20
Astronomers at KaimulSi Could
Detect Nothing Solid When
Transit Occurred.
IT RAINED AT HALEIwA
Weather There Made Abortive ALI
the Preparations of Mainland
Scientists.
,From Thursday,s Advertlser.l

SAONCANAS~
The nucleus of Halley's comet has
NO body of solid matter large enough
TO be visible through SIX or six and
four tenths inch telescope, with the sun
as q background. This was the con
clusion reached yesterday as result
of the observations make at Diamond
Head and Kaimuki, by Prof. f. Eller-
man of the Mount Wilson Observatory
and Professor Donaghho of the College
of Hawaii. Both saw the sunsrots re-
ported by mainland observes. But
Halley's comet, passing between here
and the sun, showed absolutely no dm-
preston at all,-the sun with the comet
in front of it looked just as if there
was no comet there.
This was what Professor Ellerman,
Lord and Coddington came all the way
here from their mainland institutions
to observe. Yesterday afforded an I'M
precedented opportunity to find out
whether the comet had solid nucleus,
and settle a question that has occupied
astronomers ever since comets have
been studied. The telescope obselva-
lions of yesterday do not Prove that
there is no solid matter in Halley's
comet, but they do prove that there
is no large solid body, constituting the
head, or nucleus, of the comet
It is possible that other, larger tele-
scopes. may show some different results.
Professor Ellerman stated after his
observations were over, that differ
emit report might come from the larger
instrument employed il Manila. "All
there is to be said about my observa-
lions here,'' he said, "is that The re-
suit was negative. There is nothing to
report. / had had some idea that per-
haps we might see something of the
comet in transit, but not the faintest
trace was to be SEEN"
The Mount Wilson astronomer had
a small observatory on the slope OF
Diamond Head, just beyond the light
house, in which was a 6.4-iuch tele.
scope. After his work was over yes
terday, he and Mrs Ellerman enter
tanned a small party at dinner, picnic
style, on the picturesque slope above
the sea, the patty afterwards being
treated to some fine opportunities to
view the heavens through the big glass
Professor Donaghho, fresh from his
work at Kaimul1i, was caller between
six and seven o'clock. The two OBJ
servers each laughingly exI ressed salts
faction that their observations, or lack
of observations, were the same.
Just Normal.
"The sun was just the same as on
any normal day." said Professor Do
naghho. 'fThe comet made TO appear
ance at all in our telescope, which
was as 1 expected. This proves, OF
course, that there is no very large solid
body in the head of the comet,'
The comet has not yet reached its
nearest approach to the earth. 1t will
be nearest some time during the TWEEN
tieth of this month, Greenwich time
after which it will rapidly depart. Il
will be an evening spectacle from now
on, but the moon will 80 light up the
sky that it will not be seen again as
appearing or brilliant as on re
cent mornings. But for the moon, it,
largest appearance would be this even
ing and tomorrow evening.
Rain at Haleiwa.
Intense disappointment was the 10
of the two scientists at Haleiwa, Pro
fessor Lord and Professor Coddingtol
of the Ohio State University, who hav,
come here with all their instruments t.
carry out special experiments in con
neetion with the transit of the come
across the sun. Yesterday, at Haleiwa
throughout all the period of transit, thl
sky was heavily overcast with cloud
and rain prevailed, making the work o
taking any observations at all impos
sible.
Last night Professor Lord telephones
in to The Advertiser announcing tn
dismal finale of his long trip, He ap
peared philosophical over the situation
however, saying when condolences wer
extended:
"Well, it could not be helped"
The only sign Of irritation the scien
fist displayed was when the buzzing i
the telephone receiver grew extra loud
sisal May Have News.
The United States magnetic oh
servatory at Sisal is looked to for SOM
Important reults in the general stud.
of Halley's comet. II 10 the theory o.
many astronomers that the comet :
tail Is an electric phenomenon, In whiel
event 1t might BIO expected 10 have
marked effect on aueh instruments a
those at sisal. o. II. Gardner, In eharg
OF tho magnetic station, kept speeia
watch Of his instruments yesterday, bu
no report has been received yet from
his observations, II was the expeeta
lion OF many scientists that such ~
strumsnts would show violent disturb
anee during the period Of The earth
passage through the tail Of the comet
Just = LAttls Nervous,
Disguise 4 aa the majority tried
there WAS comfortable apprehension
smone tho elilseaa yesterday over ih
approaching transit of lhe eomei anl
lhe snn, Iuaf What Nns % have bee
expected feW kues and although Their
HfFa feFy fee NhQ actually gave N
aaa Acknowledged lkat they Naf
pssaFga ta aealh,H lheFf HQla geF.