ROYAL SOCIETY

Evening Star, Issue 24016, 15 October 1941, Page 9

ROYAL SOCIETY

ASTRONOMICAL SECTION .The annual meeting of the Astronomical Section of the Otago branch of the Royal Society of New Zealand was held on Monday evening, Mr J. C. Begg presiding. The annual report stated: It is noted with regret that the observatory was not at all well patronised during the season. No doubt the black-out was the principal cause, while the absence of - the major planets might also account tfor non-attendance. The black-out is { really a boon as far as observing is con--11 corned, as the absence of sky glare ? makes visibility much better. Although •‘ the planets are _ extremely interesting, , their absence gives more time to the opportunity of viewing clusters, nebula) and other groups of stars. The observaatory has been open to the public on 'Wednesday and Saturday nights, when overhead conditions were favourable. An address on “ Random Observations at tho Observatory,” was given by Mr W. H. B. Hobbs, who described the methods and equipment needed for different branches of research. He also made an appeal to all who have telescopes to use them on somo branch of research and offered to give instruction in the methods to bo used. With the. war, members were going away from all over New Zealand and the ranks would have to be filled if astronomical research was still to be carried on. Valuable research was being done by the Observatory in Dunedin. The following officer-hearers were elected:—Chairman, Mr J. C. Begg; acting chairman, Mr W. D. Anderson; secretary and director of observatory, Mr W. H. B. Hobbs : committee—Dr R. J. T. Bell, Dr C. M. Focken, Dr S. B. Strain; Messrs W. A Drew. G. Conling. W. Gardner, G. S. Smith, E. G. McGeorge; representative ‘on council, Mr Hobbs; treasurer, Mr G. .Coding.