STUDYING THE HEAVENS

New Zealand Times, Volume LI, Issue 11739, 29 January 1924, Page 8

STUDYING THE HEAVENS

A NEW OBSERVATORY CITY COUNCIL PROVIDES TELESCOPE AND SITE. ADVANCE WELLINGTON 1 A movement is at present on foot to provide Wellington with another powerful telescope for astronomical work, and to provide suitable accommodation for the instrument. Recently the Wellington C'ity Council purchased a very fine telescope, and granted a. quarter acre site in the Keiburn Gardens for the erection of an observatory, the total value of the telescope and land being something like £4OOO. The building has not yet be.n erected, but there is lying in Wellington, in the hands of the New Zealand Institute, a fund of £SOOO for an observatory in the city? The fund is known as Carter’s Bequest, and has been in the institute’s control for over 28 years. The astronomical section in Wellington, under the leadership of Dr. A. K. Newman, will send a deputation to the annual meeting of tile New Zealand institute to-morrow afternoon for the purpose of asking for a grant from the bequest to build an observatory for the citizens of Wellington. This movement for an observatory is not a new one on the part of local astronomers, who, for years past, have made periodical application to the New Zealand Institute for assistance, but until now, there has not been available a site or a suitable telescope. 'Jh-e position now, however, has changed tor the better, and they hope that the application will be successful. The accommodation at the present Kelburn Observatory is very limited, there being only a room some 12ft square. Those in charge have had to refrain from giving prominence to interesting astronomical movements, as they would bo unable to cope with the crowds which would seek to be admitted. If the present application is successful, the new observatory will probably he opened in May next.