The Telegraph-courier. [volume] (Kenosha, Wis.) 1888-1946, 1910-03-10
SUNRISE IS NOT SEEN
High Buildings Block Range Of
Vision at South Kensington.
Not More Than so Per Cent. of Sky
Ever Visible at Observatory
Scientist Urges Removal to
Less Obscured Spot.

LOndon.-An observatory for the
study Of solar phenomena, whence
the sun can seldom be seen and a sun
set or sunrise never, appears a strange.
anomaly.
Such is the position of the govern
ment solar physics laboratory and OBJ
seryatory in South Kensington, around
which since it was first constructed
high buildings and trees have grown
to obscure the heavens from view.
More than this. Only one-half Of,
the sky is at any time within it's
range of vision, and that half is more.
often than not obscured by London
smoke.
A scientific correspondent, who
went there recently for information,
pointed out more glazing anomalies in
the situation of this important OBJ.
servatory.
so badly placed is It," he explain.
ed, that though the new daylight
comet has twice been visible in CEN
trail London to all, yet this state de-
partment, especially formed for the
study Of such things, has not owing
to its unfavorable position and sur
roundings, been able even to see it.
Anybody going there can see,
moreover, that the observers are
never able to see the sun rise or set,
because they are surrounded by tall
buildings on either side. Yet their
principal work, as the word solar
shows, is concerned with the sun.
Since the observatory was estab-
ished, over Is years ago, buildings
and trees have grown up all round it,
shutting out the horizon.
mot more than SO per cent. of the
sky, / estimated, is visible; absolute
Iy the whole of the horizon is blocked
out, and Of the sky that is left only
that Immediately overhead is blue, be-
cause the London smoke renders the
air so hazy.
"To revert to the comet. It is still
a riddle whether it is composed Of
sodium or Of helium This the instru-
ments would have solved in a few
minutes had it been possible to en-
ploy them, but most of the time it was
visible in London it was behind the
TWO tower-like chimneys of the Natur-,
Al History museum
For the short time it was not so
0bscured the north wind swept the
smoke of the town across the other
wise cloudless skies, and prevented
any observations being made.
Every one outside London saw
what a magnificent object the comet
was and yet at the Solar Physics lab
oratory, maintained for such purposes,
nothing could be seen.
IF on such evenings the comet,
then fairly high up in the sky, could
not be viewed, it follows that the OBJ
servers cannot get any star, however
Important, which is low down in the
sky, so that, from an observational
point of view, the scientists are con-
stantly prevented from doing neces-
sary work.
The Solar Physics labOratOry-it is
not even on the telephone, as search
N the book reveals-is housed, as any
one can see, in two galvanized iron
sheds, and the telescopes and other
valuable instruments, Photographic ap-
paratus, etc, are actually in wooden
shanties.
"One, at least, of these | noticed
was covered with tarred telling on the
roof, as inflammable material as can
De found.
In the house of commons, indeed,
as scientific men know only too well,
The Solar Physics observatory is con-
.emptuously referred to as the hen
run
"The Importance of the work done
.here-the pioneer observatory of So
lar physicists easily demonstrate.
For example, it has been discovered
that sunspots, which indicate ire
mendous solar activity, occur in
lefinite cycles of about II years, and
hat the worlds weather il uitallE