WANGANUI ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

Wanganui Chronicle, Volume XLIX, Issue 12630, 18 October 1905, Page 2

WANGANUI ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

The annual meeting of the Wanganui Society was held last events at Jackson's Rooms, the President '•■Mx Henry Sarjeant) presiding. There ■was a fair attendance of members, and -tin apology for unavoidable absence was -Received from Mr Thomas Allison. PRESIDENT'S ADDRESS. The President (Mr H. Sarjeant) delivered the following address:—I am happy to say that our finances M-3 in a very healthy comditior., we having reduced our debt by nearly £40 during: the year. Our thanks are due to JVlr Lloyd Jones, our hon. treasurer, and Mr J. Garland Woon, our hon. ".secretary, for the great interest they •have taken in the aftairs of our Astiono--mical Society. Mr J. T. Ward our very popular hon. director and astronomer, Ms been very industrious m exhibiting ■•stellar phenomena through our fine telescope tp the Wanganui public and visitors, at the same time giving most apt .-and useful instruction thereon, just as .deeply as individuals like to go. Mr Ward I believe, has also for some time ,been busy fixing up and registering his snany newly-discovered double stars, as vseen in the South Polar heavens He lias also been keeping strict guard over ithe sun spots by day, and watching tor -.anything new in the whole stellar universe 'by night. He has been perseveringly and intelligently assisted by Mr Allison. We beg to thank all *hose who have so kindly assisted us. Sir Robert Stout gave us a highly m--struotive and interesting lecture on Darwin, the proceeds being divided between the Observatory and the Museum. When I was told a week ago that l •would be expected to deliver an address .-at this annual meeting I was much con.©erned, -and especially so at the short notice, and considering my other occu--pations. However after thinking the matter over seriously, I concluded that it would be an opportunity to advise the teaching of the rudiments of astronomy in all our schools as one of the best modes of expanding the intellect of the xising generation,' as I have always adTpocated. All teachers should be made ±■0 pacss an examination in the rudiments -of this important science. Mr Ward -aand I the other day were discussing the .^question >cf advising the Education Board to purchase an orrery; that is a -.simple machine for showing the course •of the planets under the control of round the sun. Then, at -once, all the movements-of the stellar -system would be made quite clear. The orrery anight be taken round by a steadier to each school, say, once in six ;snonths. We also expressed the wish •&haib the day would soon come when -every Education Boai-d would possess .an orrery. • I will now, in a condensed manner, jgo back into history, just to show the £erce struggle that has taken place

"through all the ages, on the one hand -for the emancipation and advancement of the mind of man, and on the other its suppression by the jealousy of des_*potism and superstition. Most of you

know the men I shall mention, but this

is a reminder. I commence with So•ecr&tesi, the profoun^r^reek philosopher --■of about 400 B.C. He was a compara-

:tively poor man, and yet he taught the jstudy of nature dn the market place to all comers for nothing. By nature is raneant astronomy, physics, and metavphysies, or, in other words, the cosmos. ;.:He also taught morals. But, above all "things, his intense desire was to in--astruct and expand the minds of the _j<oung. Superstition and the jealousy oi those in power demanded that he should cease such teaching or suffer -ideaibh. He decided to die rather than Jive onsudh, terms. This is but a-sjg^ -<>f what took place thousands of yetirs 3t>efore his time for the* suppression of *he growing intedlect of man. It is itrue that in Chaldea and Egypt, carved :in massive granite, there are signs of ihe rudiments of astronomy, preserved *<on aooount of the difficulty of their de-.-Sbruotion in those days. Coming back ;«ome 2000 years, and passing. over the intervening suppression of knowledge, we come to Gallileo, who, was tortured .for teaching that the world revolved ..round the sun. Only about 150 years -ago Lavoisier, the profound dHfmiist -who first laid down our present princi--ples of chemistry, suffered death at the -age of 35 on account of 'his wisdom. We are fortunate in living in this .^blessed' age of freedom, when a main ♦can speak his mind on scientific subjects -without molestation- or fear.

A few months ago I was much eatisJ&ed to hear Bishop Wallis pronounce, .from the pulpit in Wanganui that the .•church must now accept the principles --oi the Darwinian science of creation by ■^evolution, and it is a pity that more of -itihe ministers under him do not begin i*o follow in (his highly-enlightened footsteps. We learn from eminent: asirono..mers that worlds are evolved"; from,neJrUlmla, aided, pefhlsf>s, by; meteoric sho\v-t;.*-;iefs or othknnsejjfhaf'tlh|y,ldve throrijpF ' J-^enormous periods'of activity, and thepc: -decay. For diHslance, ifcif'seen tMt.the^ -iin'oon has passed through 'her'period• ~*f volcanic life, and that she is • now -dead, waterless, and without air'.:''There -are myriads of dead and dark worlds in tike universe. Perhaps through the abvesence of heat and light and electricity -their gravitation is lessened, and they lack cohesion, and so disintegrate, or with other bodies, and are thus J -^converted into nebulae again as food,

in their turn, far other worlds. This -earth, and all that thereon exists, including the ancient and modern temples made by human hands, are held together and in their places, as you are "aware, by that mysterious force called .^gravitation, first noted by Kepler and -amplified and made clear by Sir Isaac ISfewton. That force turns us to the -sun every twenty-four hours, or at ihe rate of 1000 miles per hour; that -.sanie force hurries us on in our course .round the sun, a distance approaching 600,000,000 miles per year, or at .the rate of about 19 miles per second. Again, this globe is quite email in comparison to the most of these stars we ". see in space; nevertheless, it is teeming with life, and we can see clearly, by what is discovered dn the rocks or .orust of the earth, that this life has -been -evolving for many millions of ..years We have mighty rivers, and active and dead volcanic mountains, and •vast oceans 'beating on the beaches -everywhere. Now, if we follow the diestates of science, which is founded on ..facts and truth, we are kd to realise the suggestiveness of millions of worlds in the regions of spa'oe, teeming with life and other phenomena, also more or less akin to what we observe in this, ■our terrestrial habitation. Astronomy and chemistry have of late ''-years considerably aided each other in 'sfche great field of science; through the aid of the spectroscope the chemica 1 ■constituents of the sun and the visible .stars have been made known to us; and, strangely enough, helium was thus first -discovered in the sun, and then, being known, it was afterwards sought for and found on the earth. I am in hopes . -of initiating a scheme for acquiring a first-class spectroscope for use in our ■Observatory, for the field of research -would thereby be immensely extended. To dhow the very high appreciation by the public of the series of evenings with the telescope before mentioned, -and especially of the bright and fascinating views of the moon, Jupiter, and •other objects, accompanied by the remarks of Mr J. T. Ward and Mr -Thomas Allison, £12 was collected at -the door of the Observatory. I have -much pleasure in saying that a repea--tion of the series will be kindly given

a little later, of which due notice wi'l be given. H. SARJEANT, President. ! OBSERVATORY REPORT FOR °04 5 | The annual report of the hon. director (Mr J. T. Ward) was read as follows:— Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen, —Our third annual session has now com© to an end, but not, as we may safely say, without our having effected work of an interesting and, we hope, of .scientific value, during this period. The Qboervaitory 'has been opened en the evenings set apart for general observations Iby* 'the mem-bars and visitors on 135 •nights, the total attendance numbering 892. I have much pleasure in informing you that [arrangements have been made with Mr Em peon for the students ,at the ■Collegiate School to have the use of the telescope at the Obesrvatory on one evening per week (Wednesday) from October 1 to March 31 of this Gossi'dn. This is 'a decided advance ■from last session, when the attendance totalled 467. The 'weather conditions since the early part of the year have not 'been favourable to good work being done, >a great deal °f cloudiness being registered. This has interfered to a -considerable extent with the doublestair observations, as -also to s.ome extent with-the more popular lunar and planetary -observation* on many evenings devoted to your members. Efforts have ■been made by your hon. staff to arouse interest in the mere notable objects on view, from month to month, bs^ endeavours to explain what has been unfa observation, ibut we confess to being surprised to find that with such a fine telescope in their ■midst so few should seek to acquire from 'reading that fuller knowledge on this subject which may be had for so small an effort, and which when acquired gees so far towards supplementing the revelations of the telescope and to increasing the interest of the observer. By arrangement with Mr Empson, of the Collegiate School, wo are taking a party of the scholars on one night in each week, and, weather ■permitting, the Observatory is open from 8 to 9.30 on Thursday and Friday evenings in each week for our- members and visitors as formerly. The sun has given several exhibitions of a striking nature during the past session, the very fine spot which made its appearance at the end of January and beginning of February of this year being by far the most notable. It was seen by many people in this country by the unaided eye as the sun was either rising or setting, and when the sun was partly obscured by bush smoke. In the telescope it revealed a marvellous scene of activity and as fine an example of solar energy made manifest as we may hope for many a long day. In connection wiit-h this subject it is interesting to recall the hypothesis advanced by ■Mr Maunder, of Greenwich Observatory, whereby he accounts for the disturbances in the terrestrial magnetic force by projected energy of attenuated mat- | ter from the sun. That the earth, in fact, is 'actually bombarded by our luminary across the small matter of nearly ninety-three million miles of space Which separates the two bodies. The oorrerspandence appears to be well established, so much so that not only do the attacks coincide with the synodical rotation of the sun, but after the area of disturbance has apparently died down we still experience minor effects as that particular region again returns t:> a corresponding position. This problem will undoubtedly receive much support from the remarkable discoveries now teing made 'by the speetroheliograpn, rri instrument used at a few only of the largest observatories in Europi raid America. This instrument so-aures photographs of the sun's outer -siiviaee and limb taken in the diffivm1; ]>or::ons of the solar spectrum, and I.v*. v'.hi'-h it is pcs-j.ble to determine the"u'&t)ib'itu)ii of e,uch substfjtnops as ir*m, hydrogen calciui^js^^y&thoi^lerne'nt^ on' tg^sdn, Tntc? %he aiffrvent'" areps' 'occupiect 'by these elements m different periods' of time. It also enables the astronomer to detect the advent of a great sim-spot before it actually makes its appearance visually, and to trace its effects long after the spot has disappeared. It is surely a remarkable fact that tho astronomer, although situated at such an immense distance from his object, is able to watch over tfhe birth of a great solar- disturbance with, perhaps a clearer vision than that possessed by the meteorologist who sits in his study, , with 'his widely collected data tabulatled before him, and observes, as it were, the closing in of those destructive forces that have their abode in the earth's atmosphere. In this way a method of | forecasting a variation of energy in the sun, and its possible effect, may be arrived at, a consideration of no small moment to the human race. The recent total solar eclipse of the 30th of August appears to have been seen to very great advantage, and we ehall doubtless hear shortly particulars of several valuable results arising out of the very thorough preparations made to%-bse(rve*thjsr eeli^e; more thorough, h ii m%if|wß; r stated, th%;-any other eclipse in the Jiistory. of as'trpnomy. We trust -time may-come when the financial p;os3^ipp" enable;,-it: ;%o|i^qu«ii?o^an, emd:'eH^-:^&ct-.rcso6pe v by -wtooh the. large aperture of our telescope may be used to advantage in demonstrating the reality of many of these interesting discoveries in solar physics.

The moon still remains the most attractive of the heavenly bodies to the general observer. Several instances of exceptionally line definition have been recorded at the Observatory during the past year, and minute detail on several regions of general interest to selenographers has been noted. The region about Linne has been closely observed and several sketches obtained which, with accompanying notes, will be of value for future reference. The observations carried out by Professor William Pickering, of Harvard Observatory, when he recently set up Shis large photographic telescope in Jamaica, have nob had the effect of 'arousing that deeper human -interest in our satellite that such a (record would have aroused in farmer years. It may be that the professor's views are not sufficiently endorsed by .his fellow scientists. At any rate the general impression seems to prevail that a verdict of " net proven" meets the case, and our satellite still means for us a body so devoid of anoisture on its surface or atmosphere enveloping lit as to merit its appellation of a "dead" ■world. It may be that many instances of change of shading, in various regions, as the position of the surface alters to the source of illumination, will be found to exist in the variations of dts surface configuration and the differing degrees of reflective power possessed 'by these conformations under different angles of illumination. Such, for instance, as when the sun shines upon a series of sloping terraces in rising, or upon their faulted surfaces in setting. Advantage was taken during February last, when the moon occupied a favourable position and phase, to throw the Observatory open to the public at ■a nominal fee, with the result that about 250 persons availed themselves of the opportunity, and evidently appreciated the views obtained. It is proposed to repeat this part of our programme dn the near future, Venus was observed on many occasions during her greatest elongation east of the sun, during February, and followed into conjunction and observed within a few days on either side of the sun. No dark shadings could be di.stineu'«hed, but a very .slight thickening of the southern cusp appeared ?s the crescent narrowed down towards conjunction. In the case of Mars grent expectations were entertainer! (regarding tin© opposition of May lash With its considerable southern declination, and consequent grcotor

elevation to southern observers, it was thought that our chances of fine definition were very rosy, but a succession of cloudy and windy nights, with great changes of temperature, resulted in much unsteadiness of the atmosphere, rendered this object 'anything but an easy ono on those few evenings that were free from clouds. Nevertheless, efforts were made to delineate the features of this interesting object, and although none of those exceedingly minute markings were seen which have resulted in such a storm of argument in the Norths™ Hem'!sphea-e in past years, enough was made out distinctly to form a series of about twenty sketches. Fifteen of these were reproduced by your hon. director to the scale required, viz., 2-{ inches, and forwarded to the director of the Mars section of the British Astronomical Association for publication in their memoirs. It will be of interest to recall at this stage the various efforts that have hsem made from time to time to obtain photographs of Mars. Those, as you ian'e aware, have been more- or less failures. But this opposition will .always be noted for marking the beginning of successful plauetary photography, if all we read is correct. It appears that the observers at Flagstaff Observatory, in Arizona, U.S.A., always noted for their devotion to the red planet Mare, have iat last succeeded in entrapping not only the many broader features of this planet- upon the photographic plate, but quite a number of those more delicate objects termed "canals." It is a- rather singular fact that iln the drawings of the Nilo Syrtis made by many noted observers of the past we invariably find this object making a continuation of the extreme northern point of the Syrtis Major. It was noted during the late opposition that this feature emerged slightly to the South-east of that locality, and in this position it is slwwn on the only reproduction of these photographs which yet come under cur notice, viz., in the current number of the "Observatory" just to hand. I shall be glad if members will examine the sketch and the picture in the "Observatory," both of which lie upon the table, at their leisure. Jupiter was observed to much advantage during the early part of this session, and although no very striking markings were noted upon his surface, yet hiis fine appearance and interesting system of satellites were for some time a continual source of pleasure and instruction to members and visitors to the Observatory. We may again look forward to viewing this planet, in his more northerly position, during the next few months. This will always be a remarkable year in the annals of astronomy, inasmuch as it gave us two new satellites to Jupiter and one to Saturn. For nearly three centuries the four larger "moons" that are attached to this planet were looked upon as his full complement. Then came the classic discovery by Barnard, proving the grasp of the great 36-inch (refractor on Mount Hamilton, which revealed to him a fifth satellite. This was found to revolve in an orbit of less than 70,000 miles from the surface of the great planet. Now to add still further lustre to this Observatory comes the discoveries of Professor Perrine, of two more attendants circling about this planet. These objects, although of a very diminutive order, present the student of gravitational astronomy with one of the most interesting and absorbing problems. If the direction of their orbital motions coupled with the intersection of their planes be correct, as published, then may w& expect to find some of our great (mathematicians breaking lances over the causes of this peculiar portion of the Jovian system. Saturn has been 6-een. exceptionally well during the last month or two, and is yet in a most favourable position for observation. Those who have not yet observed ,it at this apparition should certainly lose no tone in doing so. Its ring system is sJ&iHy^clpging t tfo^that in 19Q6-7 its edge ti ill be '"■prcpe'niecl to our ' view. The (planet as now seen, displaying the major portion of the ball above the ring with the remainder showing beneath it, presents, we aire inclined to consider, tfts most attractive appearance. Tho density of its northern temperate "belts" is the most remarkable feature revealed in the large telescope wk the Observatory. Not to be outdone in the wcrk of discovery, that most active of Observatories—Harvard —has ■also added its quota. Professor Edward Pickering has furnished another brilliant success to his former discovery of a ninth, by this tenth satellite to Saturn. The new body is conjectured to have >a diameter of about fifty miles only, but its chief interest lies in the fact that according.to the latest data and computation, its orbit coincides •with that of Hypherion, another of Saturn's satellites, which revolves ■around that planet in 21.25 days. As pointed out by Crommelin, it will be interesting to examine the newly-found satellite to see if it partakes in the larger perturbation from their crreatcineighbouring satellite, Titan. \vLich io felt to so great an extent by Hyphcri^n. The only comet observed iwro during the session 1904-5 was the f hart periodic one known as " Eneke's " Ibis was found, after'niuch cloudy weather, on December i; and folio»vid ii'! tin? 7'ii, when cloudy • weather again interfered with further observation. This comet was much fainter, in my opiiuoi. than on its last two previo.is returns to the sun.

To refer to the efforts of your Observatory staff to "pick up" some of those interesting objects, the double stars which have, so to speak, slipped through the nets spread for them by earlier observers, ib will interest you to know that those efforts have notbeen altogether unfruitful. In the early part of the stesion 53 of those pairs found by 'Mr Allison and myself were again observed, and circle readings of their places were taken. Their position angles and distances arrived at by eye eistirnate only, owing to the micrometer having no bright web illumination. These 53 pairs were then listed and sent as a first instalment to the Royal Observatory, Oape of Good Hope, where the director, Sir David Gill, has kindly promised to place such upon their working lists. A letter was received by return mail to the effect that an accident to the driving arc of their large refractor had put them in arrears with their own work, with the result that they could see no prospect of measuring our stars within a reasonable time. On receipt of this information it was decided to, if possible, have the alteration made to our own micrometer, which would enable us to attack this task at our Observatory, and at this juncture your worthy president. Mr Sarjeant. offered to assist towards this end. and the instrument was sent to Messrs Cook and Sons, of York, England, who have since advised us of safe arrival of micrometer, and promise a speedy despatch of same with alterations completed. During the past session we have added about eighty new pairs to those already on our books at your last annual meeting, and on arrival of the micrometer we bepe to be able to put those objects into that order which wili fit them for future reference. So fnr none of our members have taken up that mo^t interesting branch of astronomy the observation of variable stniv. A fjno field f.or the exercise of much original research exists in our latitude, and once .skirted on the work the observer will find it exceed ingly_ interesting. A good stair and pair of wide binoculars are sufficient stoefc-in-tradf to embark on this enterprise, backc-d, of course, with some enthusiasm. We hone ©re lonsj to find volunteers who will offer on this onil, which, if not quite m> .enchanting at first as some of thrwo. pursuits that hy hold of ninny of v«, j will certainly become .so. Although not I onp of u.s. T should lik-f to refer to Mr IA. A. Turner, of Drovfor's Rock School,

Maurieeville, who has taken up_ this branch of astronomy, and has furnished me with a report cohering .some months' observations, -which I have duly furwarded to the meteoric branch of the British Astronomical Association. Among the anany [interesting and interested visitors to our Observatory during the j past session I have much pleasure in referring to the Chief Justice, Sir Ilo!bert Stout, who has taken a great interest nn our woirk. His lecture, at the Museum on behalf of the Museum and Observatory, was intensely interesting and much appreciated, and foe has kindly promised to favour us agaai, in the near future, with another lecture of a scientific nature. Our best thanks are also due to the directors of the Royal Observatory at the' Cap© of Good Hope, Sir David Gill, and to those in chaa-ge of the.. Lick.. Observatory, Mount Hamil; Ik>n^-';CaH£ojm i *a.- list: of -'wKtilr^appparaj; ejseyhei-e^. j is p'ai-ticularly gi-atifying t<if* us to -find two of the niore important of the world's Observatories so generously dcs"posed towards a small society which has nothing to offer in return. We >could hope, nevertheless, that many, more institutions were animated by the same generous ins tenets, then pur library might make amends for our log. I The working staff at the Observatory consists, as before, of your hon. director, assisted by Mr T. Allison, tp whom my sincere . thanks a.re due for the thoroughness oP his co-operation in the work connected wifch the establishment. Our thanks are due to the looal Press for kindly inserting notices of meetings, etc., connecterl with the Observatory. The " Astronomical Notes" have been published on -tV beginning of • each month and ar-\ by arrangement, issued at the same time by several papers m different centre's of the colony. We trust they may arouse in others, a love for our science which will ■culminate in other establishments similar to our OAvn being set up at those centres. _ My thanks are due, also, to our president and the gentlemen of the Committee for their hearty co-operation in matters tending to the success of the Observatory. I trust that as time goes on our efforts towards popularising astronomy, and effecting some sound work, will be like the action of our instrument on the. realms of space, viz., to take an ever-increasing and expanding field of view as we proceed onwards and outwards from our fecal point. Then indeed will the establishment'of this Observatory have more than justified its su P porters.-I am. etc.^ ward> , Hon. Director Wanganui ObservatoryOctober 17th, 1905.

NEW MEMBERS.—Messrs J. H. Davison, F. R. Field, and L. Cohen were elected members. ELECTION OF OFFICERS.-The election of officers resulted as follows :— President, Mr H. Sarjeant; Vice-Presi-dente, Messrs John Duncan and D. Hutton; Hon. Sec, Mr J. G. A\oon; Hon. Tu-easnrer, Mr Lloyd Jones; Hon. Auditor, Mr Fail-burn; Committee, Mrs J. T. Stewart, Messrs T. Allison, J T Stewart, A. Elliott, A. Atkins, Jas. Watt, and C. W. Babbage; Hon. Director, Mr J. T. Ward; Assistant Director, Mr T. Allison. • SCHOOL CHILDREN.—Mr W. Bruce mentioned that a large number of children, including hundreds of visitors from country schools, would be attending the Technical School Exhibition in December, and suggested that facilities could perhaps be made for showing them tihe telescope.—-The matter was left to the Committee to deal with. FINANCE.—Mr JaiS. Watt moved that the President, Mr Elliott, and himself be >a committee for the purpose _ of readjusting the finances of the' Society.