Evening star., 1953-09-02
Islands Of Sturs Due
For Long-Term Study
Clusters Are Interspersed
Between the Continents
By Thonos R. Henry

Uy tHOJttOS n. TISUby
Nature Of a new type of celestial
objects-clusters of stars which form
small islands in the vast ocean of
Space-will be considered at a confer
ence of some of the worlds foremost
astronomers to be held this month at
Northwestern University.
It is now known that space is filled
with galaxies-of which the Milky Way
system with its thousand billion stars
is fair example. Its nearest neighbor
galaxy is approximately $500 light
years away; that is the distance COW
cred by light moving at a speed of
about 10000 miles a second in 1900
years.
Called Continents" Of Space.
These galaxies can be considered the
continents" OF space. They are, per-
hapS, 1nnumerable. They have been
found in the utmost limits Of the Mount
Palomar telescope
The star clusters are smaller objects
1nterSperSed irregularly between the
gaIax1eS like islands in the oceans.
They appear to be entirely independent
OF the great star systems, without even
any observable gravitational attraction
between them
The conference is intended to estab-
lish plan of long term research. both
in the United States and abroad, espe-
cially in the science of astrometry-
measuring the positions of stars and
other astronomical bodies. The astron-
omers also will consider better means
OF keeping Photographic catalogues of
The fundamental cforc fA dot
problem of keeping current these ce-
leStial road maps, as new measurements
are made, is enormous.
The conference will be held under the
auspices of the National Science Foun-
dat1on and is one of series designed
to set objectiveS for present-day re-
search. Another, to be held at the Uni
verSlty Of New Mexico, will consider
the composition and motions of gases
In the upper atmosphere, the region
beginning about l3 miles above the
earth. In this region masses of gases
move IN irregular patterns affected by
various forces Some of these forces,
such as the magnetism of the earth, are
known. Others still are completely un-
known.
Exploring Radiation Spectrum.
An almost completely uncharted re-
gion OF the radiation spectrum now can
be explored for the first time.
This is the region of the millimeter
waves, falling between the longest
wave lengths of infra-red light and the
shortest, used in radar and television.
according to DR.. H. Motz of the micro
wave laboratory of Leland Stanford
University In report issued through
the Office of Naval Research.
There is as yet no clear idea Of the
part these radiationS, about thirtieth
OF an inch long, play in nature. About
every other section of the spectrum.
from .OO05-millimeter light waves to
mile-long radio waves, have been found
to have important uses, DR.. Motz says.
They fall just between the point where
radiations are sent out by atoms and
molecules and where they are
produced by man-made devices. There
presumably are plenty of these milli-
meter radiationS all around. The
trouble is that they are all mixed up
with other radiations, and it has been
extremely difficult to obtain pure beams
Of them.
Production of such beam, he reports.
is enabled by linear accelerator made
by Stanford physicists. With this, beams
of radiations from those which produce
visible light to those in the millimeter
range 10000 times as long can be
produced. This is an electron ac-
celerator by means of which a power
Of 5 million volts can be impaired to
a moving stream of electrons.
AS yet, it is pointed out, it is i'm
possible to predict what the specific
effects of beam made up of narrow
range of millimeter wave lengths will
be. They may open up as yet un-
imagined fields of communication or
even find uses in medicine. The pres
ent problem is to produce beams ac-
celerated with much greater power in
order to test their effects.