WELLINGTON CITY OBSERVATORY

Evening Post, Volume CX, Issue 35, 9 August 1930, Page 10

WELLINGTON CITY OBSERVATORY

An interesting evening was spent last Saturday night by visitors to tho "Wellington City Observatory at Kolburn. The moon was at one of its most interesting phases, and details on its surface were seen to great advantage through tho 9-inch telescope. Conditions were favourable enough to permit of high-power views of Saturn, which is now in a good position for observation. Points of interest wero tho difference in colours between tho planet and the rings, and.tho divisions in the ring system.

A short lecture was given on llio new planet. In commencing tho subject, ancient astronomy was briefly sketched, and the possibility of astronomical thought in tho City of Ur, 3500 8.C., was discussed. Tho discovery of tho new planets Uranus, Neptune, and the Minor planets in modern times was mentioned. An account of Professor Lowell's work and his computation of the position of a transNeptunian planet, led to a few recent results concerning this new planet — Pluto. It was thought that at present its distance was 41 astronomical units from the sun, the astronomical unit being tho distance from the sun to the earth. The mass of tho planet was roughly the samo as that of tho earth. It was pointed out that these results were still very uncertain, owing to tho comparatively short time that the planet has been observed. The observatory will be agaiii open to tho public to-night, should the weather prove favourable. Tho moon and Saturn will no doubt bo the main subjects for the telescope, while a lecture will be given on tho sun. The observatory is accessible by the Kclburn cable car, and a small 'charge is made for admission.