The Hawaiian gazette. [volume] (Honolulu [Oahu, Hawaii]) 1865-1918, 1916-02-11
HONOLULU ASTRONOMERS STUDY MARS
Dissertations Par Of Worldwide Inquiry
RESULTS HERE ARE VERY IMPORTANT

NE Of the most interesting Of
1916's astronomical. offerings oc
- cured yesterday. When the plan
ct Mars reached its opposition; that Is
when the sun, the earth, and Mars were
in line and when Mars and the sur
were in opposite directions from the
earth.
This event, which occurs once, in
every ala years, is Of great interest Il
both professional and amateur astron
omers. Not for many years has Their,
been such outspoken disagreement and
criticism among astronomers as Is nov
existing between a type Of observer:
represented by Professors Lowell and
Slifer Of Flagstaff, and another type
such as Doctors Pickering, Forest, and
Phillips. The former men claim that
Mars Is inhabited and in prof Of tneil
claim they advance much data, such
as drawings and photographs Of the
planets; the latter regard the draw
ings Of Lowell and S..fer as over
drawn and interpolated through preju
dice.
All such contention, Of course, tend,
to popularize Mars, and not only are
the professional Observers stalking Their
regulations on their views of Mars, bul
also amateurs all over the world have
taken an active interest in the 1916
opposition.
That there may be as thorough o,
possible an inspection Of the planet
and that all data from all reliable
sources may be collected, related, and
made public, there has been formed
1.-THE Associated Observers Of Mars OF
the World. Representing and direct
ing the activities of the American
Astronomical Association is DIR. w. H.
Pickering Of Harvard University. Doc
tor Pickering has, since 1909, been very
specially studying Mars, and through
his earnest efforts and organization the
cause Of astronomical research is being
extended in the United States.
Some time ago, in anticipation OF
the present convenient relation OF
Mars, Doctor Pickering began CORES.
ponding with President Griffiths OF
Punahou, for the purpose Of securing
someoKs 70 take regular observation
and make regular reports on the planet
as it can he seen from Honolulu. He
has cooperated with Doctor Pickering
by interesting Frank Z. Midkiff of the
Punahou faculty and DR.. Arnold Rom,
berg of the college Of Hawaii and by
placing the Punahou telescope at their
disposal. Mr.. Midkif, who is in
charge Of the observations, is making
observations nightly. Last night, which
was particularly important one, he
continued at his work until after four.
thirty o'clock in the morning. Doctor
Pickering regards the observations ia
be taken in Hawaii as an extremely
important part of the nd-the,
world series. IT, ~ Et%
Honolulu is the only observatory be
tween the San Diego Ind New Zealand
II is situated in the tropics, Is covered
by relatively thin envelope Of 1T.
mosphere for this reason, and has a
very clear and dustless air for observa,
tons, The Punahou telescope is an
Alvan Clark six.inch refractor and II
affords good definition. 1t will east
ly permit the use Of an eyepiece magni
| flying 400 diameters Through the
courtesy Of the College of Hawaii the
Punahou telescope has been TEMPORARY
ly mounted on the College Of Hawaii 4
clock driven mounting in Kaimukf