LICK OBSERVATORY

Dominion, Volume 9, Issue 2682, 31 January 1916, Page 7

LICK OBSERVATORY

DR. C. E. ADAMS-RETURNS

INTERESTING EXPERIENCE

Having been awarded the much-cov-eted Kellogg scholarship, treasured among astronomical students, Dr. C. E. Adams, M.A., Astronomical Observer to the New Zealand Government, left New Zealand a year ago to take up tho year's residence at the famous Lick Observatory, which favour tjje honour carries. Ho returned to Wellington yesterday by the Maitai, quite enthusiastic over bis . interesting experience among the stars. When seen yesterday evening by a Dominion" representative, Dr. Adams, who could only generalise in view of tho report lio was preparing for the Government, stated that it was with the keenest sense of pleasure that ho had gone to America, and his stay at tho Observatory had been made extremely pleasant by tho director, Dr. William Wallace Campbell, and every member of his capable, hard-working staff. Tho Observatory was situated 4200 ft. up in tho mountains, about 80 miles from Sau Francisco, as a rule the most delightful of climates, but subject to a cold period in the winter. Just before they left the thermometer registered 18 degrees below freezing point, and.almost every water-pipo on the mountain bad burst owing to tho water freezing. There was altogether a permanent population of about fifty people at L'c'n, which included tho staff, scientific and mechanical, and tlieir wives and, families, but tliere wero only six asciaiiDiuers, whose groat work at present was to endeavour to measure the differential movement or velocity of tho stars, a study which bad as its basis a solution of the mystery of evolution—the origin of the universe. They wero assisted, in making their calculations by a refractory telescope. 57ft.. in length, with . a moutn 36 inches ui diameter. This Luge glass was erected ill a circular room 60ft. in diameter, with a, dome 7oft. high. The floor is so constructed that it 'can be raised or lowered 16tft., in order that the observer may he able to use tho telescope at any angle witli equal convenience. Dr. Adams says that lie went to Lick to find- out how astronomers went about! their work, and how they specialised in the various branches of astronomical research. Whilst the regular staff is not there to teach.,fullopportunity is given to students such as Dr. Adams to worry round, watch the men at work, and ask why, so that it is left to a man's initio tive and capacity.'for work to"mak£ the best use of his opportunities.. His note ■books would testify that his time had not; been wasted, that ho was, in fact, a high-grade worrier after knowledge. Dr. Adams states that practically-his only chance, of taking observations through the big telescope was on a Saturday night, when the Observatory was thrown open to the public; free of charge. People came 50 miles by., rail San Jose, and the remainder of the journey to tho Observatory by automobile. On occasions ho has seen as many as 300 people there on one evening, and one of the prettiest sights of a 'clear evening was to see the flashing lights of a column of automobiles climbing the well-graded road to the Observatory. Olio five out of the six liights (when the sky was clear) the big telescope was used for photographic purposes. Astronomers did' almost all their work by photography, and made all their calculations from negatives most carefully taken. These negatives became the real records of tho observation work done in tlio Observatory, and aremost carefully classified and ■ preserved, whilst being always at hand for reference. Prints were only made for reproductions. It was. only .on Saturday evenings that people troubled to look .through the telescopo. Its magnifying' powers ( were so . great that. one could 'only see a bit of tho moon aba 'tame.When. asj:ed as to the belief in popular theories; as to tho state of tho moon and other planets-of members of tho staff, Dr. Adams said that latter-day, astronomers were most discreet. They knew jio theories, and only recorded facts. Thoso at the Lick Observatory nvlver by any chance indulged in "fancy free" ideas; .they worked day and night keenly and enthusiastically, and what they arrived at was recorded in tho "Lick 'Observatory Bulletin," the official publication of the institution. The Observatory was like a factory, working at a set routine day and night. There are numerous telescopes, other than the big one, contained in separate buildings, each one having some special use, and few of them are kept skying in idleness when the stars are out. The social life at tho Observatory was charming, and tho people wero uniformly delightful—a community of congenial souls.' , Before leaving California Dr. Adams ■ paid, a week's visit the Mt. AVilson Solar Observatory, situated on a mountain top GOOOft. above the sea level. There they have an enormous telescope with a 10(1inch reflector, as for obvious reason all observations must be mado by means of reflection. At Mt Wilson he saw pieces of" machinery weigliing as much as ten tons being hauled up the mountain side,to complete the aTready elaborate plant in existence.

■ Asked as to the utilitarian value of this work, Dr. Adams said it was a' difficult -tiling to say exactly where astronomy became utilitarian, hut it could be said that tho. art of navigation was largely due to the work of the Royal Observatory. The higher branches of the science wero intellectual rather i than utilitarian. There Was no university in the United States without _ its chair of astronomy, and ss an intellectual offset against an overplus .of utilitarianism the science of astronomy had » fascination that was irresistible.