The Mont Blano Observatory.

Manawatu Herald, 20 March 1894, Page 3

The Mont Blano Observatory.

The first to suggest the institution of an observatory on Mont Blanc was apparently M.Follot, an Alpine climber, who at his own expense built one near the summit ; but M. Janasen , the astronomer, has consummated the idea, to the support of some well known public men— ' K. Lein Say, M. Bischoffoheim, M. Deleasert, Prince .Roland Bonaparte, Baron Alphonse de Bothscbild, and Count Greffulhe, who have formed, ttamgelves into a society for its tupport. M. Janssen, it will be rwnembered, despite his age, made a journey tb the summit of the mountain to see whether the project was feasible* Boringa failed to reach the rook, and it was decided to build the observatory on the snow. M. Janssen has again ascended the mountain in order" to make the first scientific observations. The question which he above all wishes to settle is the , •* presence or absence of oxygen in tho solar atmosphere. He has already made observations on this point, but with an inferior Duhosy spectro?copt\ and not on the summit of Mont Blanc where the atmosphere is so pure. On this occasion he Used v .Rowland spectroscope, which, unlike the other, gives the the details of the B group of the lines in the solar spaotrura. The result only confirmed histpViner conclusion, namely, that. the oxygen lines observed by Draper and others in the solar spectrum have a telluric origin, that is to say, are due to the earth's atuio.s phere. Apart from its scientific Yftlae the observatory will form a shelter, and' lodging to the Alpine traveller, who can thus remain for a few days on the summit Whatever the may be.