Evening star., 1949-12-12
New Clusters of Sturs
Are Reported Observed
Photos From 20O-Inch Telescope
Reveal Gigantic Systems
By Thomas r. Henry

Reveal Gigantic Systems
By Thomas r. Henry
New clusters Of universes are appearing on
the first Photographic plates taken with tho
new 200-inch telescope Of the California
Institute Of Technology and the Carnegie
Institution Of Washington.
This Is revealed In the annual report Of
the Carnegie Institution issued today.
These "universes" are extragalactic nebu.
lac. each q vast conglomeration Of several
billion stars comparable In size to the Milky
Way system Of which the sun and Its planets
are q part These gigantic systems appear to
cluster together with distances Of q million
or so light years-a light year Is approxi-
mately 5000, 900 10000 years separating
the members Of cluster. The Milky Way
galaxy itself Is a member Of o cluster, which
has about ten other similar aggregations.
One Of the major purposes Of the worlds
largest telescope with its n-light-year
rang Of the heavens Is to survey such clus-
ters, determine their distribution In space
and sheir relations to each other.
An eventual objective Is to determine
whether there is limit to the total universe
whether the clusters of universe continue
indefinitely or whether finally a wall Of
nothingness beyond which nothing exists will
be revealed At present about 500 families
throughout space are known.
New Groups Discovered.
A dozen new ones have been found looking
outward through the general area Of the
constellation Of the Virgin on the celestial
equator almost directly south Of the handle
Of the Big Dipper. Several others, hitherto
unknown, appear in the general direction
Of the constellation Of the Northern Crown
in the Arctic skies.
Meanwhile, the report announces DR.. WAL
ter Baade is making an intensive study Of
the constitution of the great nebula In An
dromeda, system very close in every way
to the Milky Way galaxy and, with the ex-
ception of the two clouds Of Magellan which
are dwarf systems, the closest universe
neighbor.
The Andromeda and Milk Way galaxies
are members of the same cluster. Between
them. however. stretches q million light
years of supposedly empty space. One Of
the most notable discoveries Of the year.
however, raises some question as to this
emptiness" 1t now generally Is recognized
that there Is no absolute vacuum between
the stars of the Milky Way system. The
inter r-galactic space is filled with very finely
dispersed cosmic dust. In some parts of the
heavens it Is found in clouds which, being
thousands Of light years thick, are like black
curtains lowered around the center OF the
universe. Now, it appears, the same Is true
for outer space. In region with o radius
of 100000 light years between the stars
Of one Of the nearer galaxies definite evil
dence was obtained Of the existence Of Iumi-
nous inter-galactic matter.
The Investigations also have revealed Q
new dwarf galaxy. perhaps comparable in
size to the larger Cloud Of Magellan. which
seems to be member Of the local cluster.
Less than q fourth Of the United States
is adequately mapped.
Only two States-Massachusetts and
Rhode Island-can be considered completely
mapped.
This is the conclusion Of DR.. w. Z.
Wrather, director Of the United States Geo.
logical Survey, which Is charged with the
national map-making.
The program for adequately charting the
country and its territories has Jagged for
years. DR.. Wrather says, and with the out
break Of the war 1t was necessary to produce
many maps in such Q hurry that now 1t II
necessary to do all the work over again.
Planned developments now under way or
proposed by Federal and State Govern
ments," he says, "are Of magnitude hither.
to unknown in the history of the Nation.
Proposed Federal expenditures during the
next several decades for water resources
So. .000. .000, 600. The president Of the Ameri-
can Road Builders Association recently de-
clared that it would take $60, 900 900, 900 and
from Is to 20 years to extend and improve
our highway system for handling present
and anticipated traffic. Construction and
improvement of airports and related facili-
ties will run into billions in the next 10
years. With programs Of such unprecedented
magnitude complete typographical informa-
ton should be available. But adequate maps
of the required standard are not available
and this is a serious situation which cannot
be alleviated overnight"
DR.. Wrather estimates the cost of mapping
at about Is cents an acre-which would
amount to about a half billion dollars for
mapping the Nation.