The Detroit times. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1903-1920, 1915-10-06
STAR GAZING IN JAMAICA

After l5-mile drive from the ho-
tel along the dark Vaudeville roads
| reached Prof chickering's house on
the hilltop and was greeted By the
professor and his wife, who came
out with lantern to meet me; for
there was no moon and a dark night
on The hills of Jamaica Is darkness
| indeed. The air was sweet with the
odor of datu-a and jasmine and the
tamarinds and palms on the hillside
rose like dark shadows under the
unspeakably starry sky. For not
! only are the stars larger and more
lustrous in the south, but in the
tropics are gathered the greatest
proportion OF the sta-s OF the uni
verse and the greatest OF all the
great lights.
was receiy ed with a delightful
cordially, which vas most grateful
TO pilgrim and a stranger. and
ting room with Mrs. Pickering.
where a shaded reading lamp was
burning. After a few moments Prof.
Pickering completed some observa-
tons he had been making, and read
iusting the great telescope summon
ed US out TO the observatory.
About the house on the summit
OF the hill is broad plaza, upon
which stand the various astronomi-
cal instruments which were kindly
explained TO NE, we Ill moving
about the plaza with no other light
than the stars. One OF these instru-
ments Is great clock-like arrange
ment which records the condition OF
the skies throughout the night
and its quiet tick. tick. tick out
/ there alone in the silence and dark
ness II the hills is curiousIy solemn
/ and impressive. In fancy can hear
II still way down there in Jamaica
keeping its steadfast watch upon
The skies. The great telescope,
which ia. I believe, the third largest
In the world and weighs half ton,
stretched out dark under the stars
like cannon; II - 20 marvelOusly
adjusted that II lifts and lowers and
swings on its piyo, at fingers
.. touch. The privilege OF 40 moving
IL was granted 20 me. and watched
II slowly swing an arc against the
, sky
= The professor then pointed The In
strument toward what ne called one
: Of the greatest wonder spots OF the
I, sky, the planetary nebula In Hydra
OF this he was one OF the Joint dis
coyerers and when he was in Are
/, quipa made ar especial study OF IL,
, The nebula Is near the red star.
, Cor Hydra, the heart VI the dragon.
. and the telescope reveals IL as a
fluffy mass OF light like great pow
, der pun. o. like snowy fire, slowly
drifting across the field Of the In
strument II kept drifting and drift
ing out OF my sight. and II vas with
some difficulty at first that | was
able to adjust my eyer 10 the glass
! and catch another glimpse OF II as
, Il started across the field.
Then 7 saw the great nebula in
Navy Argus. which 10 the naked eye
? appears TO be bright sta-like ob.
l., ject to the southeast NJ the Southern
! Cross. Through the telescope il De.
came a mass OF starry light with
flaming points.
Turning the telescope 10 Kappa
/, Crucis OF the South Cross. then low
on the horizon. II became necessary
for me 10 mount high on the ladder
J. or short steps OF the observatory &c
1 as TO obtain the view. This star
which is really not sta but a
cluster. and r. thus an exception In
= having a Greek letter name. appears
: as one Of faint triangle 10 the lef'
4 ~ the cross. Il dissolved into many
wonderful suns, about seven OF