The Winslow mail., 1926-07-09
Lowell Observatory Is
Doing Work Of Vast
Importance to Science
By III. ]. MINHINNICK, in
Verde Copper News

work that is a valuable contribu
tiOn to modern science and that is
certain to have far-reaching effects.
Founded a quarter of century
ago or more by DR.. Percival Low
ell, the Flagstaff observatory be-
came world famous through its in
vestigations of the planet Mars,
work, by the way, which is still
continued Dr. Lowell, man OF
great private wealth and a thor
ough scientist, equipped the OBJ
servatory with the finest instru-
ments that money could buy and
manned it with a staff of highly
accomplished astronomers. At his
lamented death in 1916, he left
large endowment to continue the
work so worthily begun and his
widow is as interested in the work
of the observatory as was her dis
tinguished husband.
The observatory is located in the
midst of large area of beautiful
grounds on Mars Hill, just outside
Flagstaff, this location having been
chosen by the late DR.. Lowell as
one of the best, for astronomical
purposes, in the west. The high
elevation, the general clearness of
the atmosphere and the fairly
equable climate made, in his opin-
ion, the ideal location for an OBJ
servatory-and the excellence of
the results obtained most assured
ly justified his judgment.
Well Equipped
The equipment at the Flagstaff
observatory is all of the highest
type and compares with that of any
observatory in the country. 1t is
true that there are larger telescop-
es than the great 36-inch reflector
at Lowell, but accurate observa-
tions are question of men, rather
than of instruments, and the staff
at Flagstaff has made for its mem
bers name in astronomical sci
ence that puts it close to the very
"head of the Glass;
Altogether outside its researches
on Mars, a question to which DR..
Lowell gave great attention, the OBJ
servatory is engaged in many orr
ginal Investigations which promise
to be of the greatest Importance to
the science.
The New Astronomy
DR.. G. o. Lampland, who has
been associated with the observa-
tory for more than a quarter of
century and who is one of the pio-
neers in more than one field of as
Economical research, conducted
representative of the Verde Copper
News through the observatory on
Saturday evening. After viewing
parts of the starry heavens through
the great telescope, the doctor gave
the visitor some real information
as to the modern astronomy.
what may we'll be called the as
tronomy of position" he said, sis.
pretty we'll a closed chapter, and
we are devoting our attention to
other questions. Within the range
of instrumental observation, we
know the stars, the planets and the
island universes of space. The
science has undergone complete
revolution and we are now engag-
ed on far more delicate and. 1 may
add, more important researches. 1t
is true that as larger and more
powerful telescopes are built, the
range of observation is extended
and new universes are being
brought into view, some of them
almost infinitely far away, but this
is, after all, mere question of ex-
tending the field of vision, and
venture to think that there are
many problems of vital Importance,
that are now engaging the attention
of astronomers and which will have
immediate and interesting effects
of the utmost Importance. 1t Is not
possible at this time, even to hint
at the ultimate results that may
be, most certainly will be, obtained
from these researches, but we are
accumulating new data that will,
some day, be of the utmost practi-
cal Importance in many lines of en-
deavor. We are making daily
measurements of the heat trans
mitted to the earth from other
stars, and these researches lead us
| IACO ndIly 1OI SCOlOl . uAhhO" IL ~
gions. We are adding every day
to the sum total of knowledge on
meteorological causes and effects
that will surely have great and
beneficial effect before long, pos
sibly enabling the making of more
accurate weather ! forecasts, this
just as a single example"
Work to Continue
Shortly after Dr. Lowell's death,
there was some little doubt as to
whether the work at the observa-
tory would be continued, owing to
some opposition to the probate OF
his will which developed, but this
is all settled now and the finances
of the institution are placed on a
permanent basis.
A Wonderful Sight
The observatory is located on
Mars hill, we'll above the city, the
site having been chosen by Dr.
Percival Lowell after a careful ex-
animation of many others available
in the state. Flagstaff was chosen
on account of the elevation, which
is over 1000 feet, and also on ac-
count of the clear atmosphere
which prevails there nearly all the