SYDNEY OBSERVATORY

Hokitika Guardian, 13 November 1925, Page 4

SYDNEY OBSERVATORY

SYDNEY. Nov. 5. The decision of the State Government to close the Sydney Observatory is viewed with disequiet in sccintifie circles. The trouble is that an observatory is not a spectacular institution, and tin' public, not very greatly concerned about the matter, is not likely to give tho scientist- any strong hacking in their prote.-t against the Government'- to. tion. They feel the position e-pecially keenly heeau.-e only recently a conference of astronomers at Cambridge decided io ask ilic New South Wales untlmriiie- io bring to a conclusion this State's portion of a scientific work of inter'national importance, relating to a .survey of the heavens " hi; h started in 1890. and in connexion with which the most important national ohsoravtorics. in 'hiding the institution in Sydney, were each allotted a, zone of observation. The Sydney Observatory was also to play its part in other fiii-reaehing work, and the closing of it. so it is asserted by sc-ien- j fists, will create a tremendous gap in the system of world-wide observations. The survey of the heavens, in which the Sydney Observatory luit- been taking part, and from which it will now he shut out. i- regarded a.s one of tho biggest scientific works of all time. The observatory occupies a magnificent site overlooking the harbour, and it will he interesting to see the use to which it is to tie put by the Government, after it has ceased to function as such.