A GREAT OBJECT

Evening Post, Volume CVIII, Issue 134, 3 December 1929, Page 9

A GREAT OBJECT

STELLAR OBSERVATORY,

"OMEGA CENTAURI'S" PLEA SUPPORTED (To the Editor.) Sir, —I have recently seen the Astronomical Notes written by "Omega Centauri," in which he put forward the claims of astronomy on those who are considering to what good object theyshall devote a portion of their possessions, and I would like most heartily to support him in a general way in his advocacy. For some years past investigations have been going on to test the value (from an astronomical point of view) of sites about New Zealand in the hope that the money would be providea to enable us to build and equip a really first-class observatory. The result of this investigation has been, most satisfactory. There are several piaces in Central Otago where the seeing conditions are as good as they are anywhere else 'in the world, and much better than they are in most places. There are at least four or five places there where conditions are almost perfect. It is most certainly true that one of the pressing needs of astronomy to-day is a first-class observatory ia a latitude as far south as possible, and I think that the observations which have been made for site-testing all go to show there is no better place in the world than Central Otago for the estabhshment of this southern observatory But it must be first class, equipped with all the latest and most perfect of instruments and staffed in a liberal way Otherwise, it is not worth establishing! The problems of astronomy to-day are not the same as they were fifty years ago, and merely moderate-sized telescopes will not do. Perhaps we do not need to do things in quite the same style as is now proposed in the Northern Hemisphere, but we must be within cooee" of it. It is proposed thera to establish a telescope with a mirror 25ft in diameter, and the estimated cost is over two million pounds. At present the largest telescope has a mirror ofabout 9ft in diameter, and the work that has been done with it has advanced the knowledges of the astronomy of the Northern Hemisphere beyond our wildest dreams. But the knowledge of tfce astronomy of the Southern Hemisphere of the heavens lags most sadly/ behind this, and will so lag until instruments corresponding to those in the Northern Hemisphere exist ia the Southern. Whilst at present we neea not contemplate a 25ft mirror for the feouth, or even perhaps a 9ft mirror yet a large mirror, as mirrors go, is need-

When some years ago it was' proposed ito establish a solar observatory here I (wrote to the papers to express my doubts as to the wisdom of doing so fn * *?* a« mueh better site was to be found m Australia than could be had m New Zealand for such a purpose. The solar observatory is now in existence in Australia, and the whole of Mr Cawthron's munificent bequest is working most excellently and" efficiently in the interests of the farmersand of agriculture in New Zealand. But ?U, g \ thonght then, and still think, that a solar observatory was not wanted here, I thought thetf and still think that a stellar observatory is wanted, but in the interval we have shown that, what was thenonly believed to be the case, is, in fact true and that no better seeing condi-: tions exist in the world for such aninstitution than are to be found in Central Otago. Omega Centauri warns us that nothing of an £. s d kind will eomo out of such an institution, and it may be that he is right. But on"the other hand ho may bo wrong. One of the most remarkable gases, which has certainly come into its ovn from a utilitarian point of view, was discovered: by telescopic means on the sun thirty years before it was known to exist oa the earth. It is difficult to know where science woujd be to-day but for the discovery of helium by Sir Norman Lockyer, and the Air Ministry are wanting to know of every possible source of supply of it for the purposes or air ship construction. But no fact m science is.really without industrial and commercial application, or .rather perhaps I should say no fact in physical science, however remote it may seem to be from industrial application. I would therefore support most cordially and keenly Omega Cantauri's suggestion that those giving gifts or: making wills should bear in mind such, an institution as the one contemplated I would only suggest that it is far better to make gifts than to leave money by will, for an inexorable Taxation Department even demanded succession duties from the Cawthron Institute I think that at least a quarter of a million would be needed to establish the obesrvatory in a proper way. But what an institution it would be and what an untold benefit to science and to the world if we only had it. There must be many people in New Zealand who could give ten thousand pounds to such an object, and twentylive of them could bring it about. There must be many more who couid provide lesser sums. lam anra that the New Zealand Institute would be willing to act as a trustee for the money. But I would urge that hampering restrictions should be avoided and the fullest possible discretion: given. The Carter bequest, which otherwise would form a splendid nucleus for such a fund, is unfortunately restricted by the condition that the! observatory to which it is allocated: must be in or near "Wellington. Nobody would think of placing an institution* such as is in my mind either in "Wel^ lmgton or in Christchurch. The ob-? servatory that I am thinking of: must be equipped in the best way and situated in the best locsJity and littl* parochial feelings must be sunk. Other* wise it is better left alone. ' ■'•■-

Is it too much to hope that some'ona gifted both with some money aiid Trithi much sense will come along and give us a start? By doing so, he will be coaterring inestimable benefits on his own and on all future generations. Tears ago the question was asked: "Can yeby searching find out God?" and t<> this I would reply: "Yes; I think we can." Science is learning more and! more of His works every day, and! therefore more and more of Him. TheT knowledge acquired has by no means' so far penetrated into the general masa; of mankmd, but it is gradually gettmg there, and it is raising his intellectual level. Every branch of sciencestudies God's works from its own point of new, and there is no nobler, no purer, and no more sublime point of vjew than that of astronomy. * C. COLERIDGE FARB I Canterbury College. '. 27th November. i