Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1950-12-15
New Clusters discovered
In Far Depths of Space
Carnegie Institution Finds
Aggregotions Of Stors
By Thomas r. Henry

By Thomas R. Henry
Discovery of more than $50 new clust-
ers of universeS in the far depths
of space, around two septillion miles
from the earth, is announced by the
Carnegie Institution Of Washington.
Each of the clusters consists Of several
aggregations Of stars as large as the
Milky Way galaxy Of which the earth
and sun are a part and which includes
almost all of the visible heavens.
1t conservatively can be estimated that
the discovery includes about so quad
rillion stars the size Of the sun.
Found BY New Telescope
Finding of these clusters of universes
on the horizon of the infinite Is one
of the first announced accomplishments
with the new 200-inch telescope, OPP
Grated jointly by the California Insti-
tute of Technology and the Carnegie In
stitution on Mt. Palomar, California.
They are close to the range to which
the great glass eye can penetrate space
with neutrality-suspicious. $50 mil
lion light years, or the distance which
light moving at about 10000 miles a
second travels in that time. At such a
vast distance mere individual nebulae,
the size of the Milky Way system of ap-
proximately 80 billion stars Of all classes
and sizes, become indistinguishable ant
only groups of them within radius o.
few million light years, can be dis
tinguished
The announcement Of the discovery
was made by DR.. Vannevar Bush, presi-
dent of the Carnegie Institution, In his
annual report presented today.
Others May Be Found.
There is no indication that the circle
of new galaxies is close to the limit OF
space, or that the region explored tc
date is more than small part of the
totallty OF creation, which may be
infinite. 1t does show that there is no de-
crease in the population of galaxies to
the greatest distance which it is pos
sible to probe. Other gigantic star ag-
gregatlons, it is expected, will be found
at greater distances.
Galaxles are separated from each
other in the same cluster by hundreds
OF thousands of light years. The nearest
major one to the earth is Messier 81
IN the direction of the northern con-
stellation Of Andromeda in the northern
heavens. Its distance has been quite &C
curately calculated as around 100000
Way system. Clusters Of galaxies are
scores of millions of light years apart
and, it hitherto has been supposed, sep
arated by CULTS Of absolutely empty
space.
Another discovery at Mt. Palomar an
nounced by DR.. Bush disproves this
There apparently is no emptiness in
creation. according to the finding of DR.
Franz Zwicky of the Cal Tech staff. He
reports new and decisive evidence" that
at least the millions of light years be-
tween galaxies in clusters is filled
with matter of almost inconceivable
fineness. DR.. Zwicky has arrived at a
tentative figure of some 100 octillionth
of a gram per cubic centimeter. This
evidence is derived from spectroscopic
studies of the central regions of some
large clusters, and the space between
components of individual nebulae. It has
long been recognized that the space be-
tween stars of the Milky Way system is
filled with some sort of cosmic dust.
Still Experimental.
The far excursions into space have
been more or less experimental to test
the efficacy of the new telescope, but
chief attention has been given to the
nearby star aggregationS within few
million light years of the earth, where
it is possible to make detailed studies
OF star structure and distribution. These
are members of the local cluster which
includes about 10 galaxies, one of which
is the Milky Way system. Other mem
bers, small, isolated islands of stars, are
the two clouds of Magellan, visible only
in the Southern Hemisphere.
Among the discoveries of the year also
are two new galaXies which are members
of this system. They are larger than the
clouds of Magellan but by no means COM
parable to either the Milky Way
galaxy or to its twin star aggregation,
Messier 81 Both the new galaxies are
in the Southern Hemisphere. They badly
disturbs the geography of local space.
Hitherto all the local system star ag-
gregations-with the exception of the
clouds of Magellan, which might be
considered as broken off fragments Of
the Milky Way galaxy-have appeared
in the north. This has led to the as
sumption that the system of which the
earth and sun are q part was close
to the southern edge of the galactic
clusters. Eventually. it may be found
that 1t is closer to the middle.
Photographs during the year with the
smaller Schmidt telescope, giving at les
ser distances greater detail than the
200-inch. have provided much clearer
pictures OF the typical galactic struc-
ture. Special efforts have been directed
towards Messier 81, nearest and bright
est of ALL which can be seen as a
hazy luminous patch with the naked
eye on clear. dark nights 1t was in
this galaxy that, about Is years ago,
it was possible to discriminate indi-
vidual stars and star clouds which proved
that it was star aggregation similar
to the Milky Way galaxy. With this
discovery mans concept of his universe
suddenly was magnified millions of times.
The smaller companion is circled with
a rim of faint light. Both objects are
moving away from the earth in the
direction of outer space at a velocity
Of about 80 miles a second.