The daily telegram. [volume] (Clarksburg, W. Va.) 1901-1926, 1914-11-23

I size Of comets and the speed with
which they move require figures OF
almost incomprehensible dimensions.
Even their closest point OF contact
with the earth Is usually distance
of millions Of miles and they travel
at the rate Of hundreds OF miles al
second, SO computations of their
courses require figures of as high
values as are known to mathematical
calculations.
Two eclipses have added to the
importance Of the current year In
the astronomical history of the
world. The eclipse Of August IL,
passing over certain sections Of
Europe. was Of such importance that
a number of American astronomers
went to Russia to take observations.
The expedition was rather unfortu-
nate. In most places the eclipse was
SO obscured by fog that satisfactory
observations were impossible. Con-
sequently, the additional knowledge
regarding the nature of the sun and
of the corona hoped for as a result,
of the observations OF this eclipse,
was not secured. In addition to this.
the hostilities in Europe interfered
with some of the astronomers reach
ing the points from which they had
planned to make observations and
prevented their return to this coun-I
try. A number of American astrono-
mers, including Professor Campbell,
of the Lick observatory of California,
were not heard of for number OF
weeks, and have only recently re-
turned to this country.
The eclipse of the moon last
March was IN event of more popular
Interest. as 1t was visible in all parts
lof the United States and was observ-l
ed with interest by all classes OF
people. While Of no especial value,
| to the astronomer, this eclipse was
of remarkable beauty and was prob
ably observed by a greater number
OF people throughout the country
than any other lunar eclipse on rec
ord.
For number Of years the observa-
tons of Professor Lowell regarding
the planet Mars have been the sub
ject OF debate among the astrono-i
mers. Professor Lowell claims to.
see many things III the planet Mars,
as observed from his observatory in
Flagstaff. Ariz., which have not yet
been announced by astronomers hav-
ing larger and more valuable tele-l
scopes. Yet 1t Is rather encouraging
to note how each year more or his
observations are being credited by
his professional brethren. Mars IL
the planet nearest the earth and the
one in which many, astronomers are
most interested. Professor Lowell
has long contended that 1t is inhab-.
| tied by human beings similar to our
Professor Lowell's description of
peaks of Mars were smiled at by his
have been observed by so many 9TH
ers that their existence is fully ac-
Icepted. Some representations Of the
physical conditions Of Mars have been
presented this summer. These indi-
cate that Mars does not contain
large masses of land like our con-
tinents. but that her dry surface is
broken up into multitudes of islands.
This peculiar distribution OF land
forms great contrast to the earth
and is said to free the inhabitants OF
that planet from any Of the irriga-
|tion problems to be solved on this
earth.
Each of the more important plan
cts is attended by one or more satel-
| ites. The satellites of Jupiter have
been considered the, most important
J of these smaller celestial bodies and
for number Of years have been a
| favorite study Of astronomers. Eight
of these have been on record. but
America must now be credited with
the discovery of the ninth satellite
of Jupiter which was observed first
from the Lick observatory on July
81 by astronomer Seth B. Nicholson.
The fifth and sixth satellites of Jupi-
liter were also discovered at the Lick
observatory.
Nebulae are among the most Pc
crliar of celestial formations, visible
sometimes to the naked eye, but al
ways more distinctly through tele-
scopes. They are merely clouds of
gases which shine from their own
4 light The Andromeda nebula has
been discovered to be approaching
the solar system at the rate Of zoo
miles a second within the last few
months by DR.. p. G. Sliher, OF the
Flagstaff observatory. Whether or
not 1t will reach the earth is pro-
blematic. Astronomers believe that
the cloudy nebulae are really imma-
ture suns which will finally condense
land become suns and may have plan
cts accompanying them. The gases
will condense after thousands Of years
and the neubla will then be in form
to have All orbit Of its own.
The transit Of Mercury which took
place upon November z was phe-
nomenon which attracted wide at
tention from the amateur astrono-
mers OF the country. 1t had little
practical value, although some COM
putations were made from 1t which
lit is thought may help in determin-
ing more exactly the true position of
Mercury in the solar system. The
observations os the transit Of Mer-
curry have also been examined by
the Nautical Almanac Office for the
purpose of finding out whether the
rotation time of the earth on Its
axis is variable.