THE LICK OBSERVATORY.

Otago Witness, Issue 2008, 18 August 1892, Page 45

THE LICK OBSERVATORY.

k cablegram published last week stated that{Professor Galton proposes to signal Mars hj means of the tfeles'rjope at the Lick Observatory-. Professor " Galton " probably means l?rofessor " Holden," who Ins been in cbarge of the observatory since its completion in June 1888, but that is a detail. It is difficult, however, to credit the statement about the signalling, as although the magnificent instrument erected at the observatory may enable observers to take the fullest advantage of the present proximity of Mars, the greatest benefit possibly to be expected can only be the opportunity of making more accurate observations, which may or may not lead to an attempt to establish communication.

The world owes the splendid Lick Observatory to the generosity of James Lick, an Organ buildor, who was born in Pennsylvania, drifted to South America, and finally died In San Francisco, leaving hi 3 entire fortune Of 5.000.000d0l to be devoted to public uses. The observatory now contains tha work bench which he brought with him from tJhlll. He seems to have been induced to found an observatory by the writings of Andrew Jackson Davis, a spiritualist, who wrote lhapsodical visions of the universe in the styly of Poe's "Eureka." These tvritingß were found in Mr Lick's library at the time of bis 3eath. Fwrthcr, 3?£ofe3sor Piazzi Smyth's experiment at Teneriffe, a generation ago, had led observers to consider the advantages of elevated sites for observatories, while the mounting of a large refractor at Washington in 1873 again revived the question, and ia 1875 Mr Lick determined; to found an observatory containing "the most powerful telescope in the world" on some mountain in the State of California. His deed of trust declares that this telescope "shall be made useful in promoting science." He selected Mount Hamilton. The United States Government granted a site, and after four years of litigation with some heirs the work of preparation was begun in 1880. The plans were drawn by Professor Newcomb and Prof63?or Holden.

The monarch among the instruments is, of course, the large refractor, which is of 86in diameter, and 56ft focal length, and it is surrounded by a group of others, each one of whioh i 3 perfect in its way, and all of •which go to strengthen and round out its peculiar work. The 12in equatorial i 3 one of the most perfect instruments in existence. The great telescope bI3O has an auxiliary photographic lens of 33in diameter. When this lenß is applied in front of the ordinary objective of 36in, the telescope is quickly transformed from a seeing instrument into a gigantic photographic camera. Its long focus niukes its images largo, so that the moon unmagnified is more than sin in diameter. It is easy to enlarge such pictures from six to 10 times, so that portions of the moon can be depicted on a scale of COin or so to the moon's diameter.

The telescope ia mounted in a huge dome, which is 70ft in diameter, and weighs 200 tons, and yet can be moved without an effort by the observer. The floor is a lifting one, and can be raised or lowered 16£ ft in seven or eight minutes, although "it weighs 58,0001b. B

The building stands on the lowest of the threo peaks which went to form the Santa Isabel Mountain of the Spaniards. The highest is called Copernicus, the middle one Kepler, and the lowest Hamilton. The station is besieged with daily visitors. A stage coach arrives daily from the nearest town, San Jose, and remains an hour, and on Saturday evening, from 7 to 10, hundreds of visitors who have made costly trips from all parts of the Continent for the purpose crowd, the observatory, and are shown the most interesting celestial objects then visible. The mere size of the telescope is often of an immense advantage. For example, a total eclipse of the moon was observed in an unusual yet simple way, and some important questions relative to the form of the earth's shadow were settled beyond doubt. The particulars contained in this article are taken from a descriptive eke:ch from the pen of Professor Holden himself in the Universal Review for February 1889 ; and, in view of the present interest taken in the planet Mars, it may not be uninteresting to quote the following passage entire : — "It was extremely unfortunate that the observatory was not completed in time to follow the planet Mars throughout the whole of the present opposition. Until the middle of July nothing could be done in the way of drawings of the planet, owing to tho presence of mechanics and workmen. On a few favourable occasions my colleague, Mr Keeler, observed the satellite?, which were followed by him until they were six times fainter than when they were discovered by Professor Hall in 1577. I have myself seen one of them (Phobos) when it was eight times fainter than at discovery. This shows that these minute objects can be readily followed at every opposition, 'lhe important changes in the surface of Mars announced by M. Perrotinfrom his observations with the rcfr.ictor of Nice (cf-peciaUy the fact of the submergence of the southern end of the continent ' Libya ') required for their confirmation by us that we should follow the planet throughout a whole opposition. The opposition took place on April 11, while our first drawings were made on July 16. The sketches which we have obtained show none of the changes of the form of the continent which have been reported, and I am myselE inclined to attribute the appearances described by M. Perrotin to a temporary veil of clouds lather than to submergence under the Martian ' ocean.' However this may, it is certain that the appearances since the middle of July are essentially as we have observed them. We shall, however, be obliged to wait for a more favourable opportunity (1890 and 1892) before we can prononcco from our own observations upon this and allied appearances of intense signifia.-O'iec."

W'tii the exceptionally fav-ur-ibla oppcrtur.itiea f_>r photographing at this magtiiicent observatoiy, it will bo indeed surprising if our knowledge of the nature of Mars is not materially increased at Lick during the present opposition. Whether the terrestrial inhabitants shall then communicate with the Martian is another matter.