THE YALE TELESCOPE.

Otago Witness, Issue 3662, 20 May 1924, Page 30

THE YALE TELESCOPE.

SOUTH AFRICA THE PROBABLE LOCATION. AUCKLAND, Alav 15. The Mayor (Air J. 11. Gnnson| lias received a cablegram from Yale University stating that the tests taken in Auckland in connection with the proposed 26in reflecting telescope show - that the atmospheric conditions here are not quite suitable for the special requirements. Mr Gunson states that it w - as understood during the negotiations that the alternative would be South Africa. A LOCAL ASTRONOMER’S COAIMENTB. A telegram from Auckland, which was published yesterday stating that tests have proved the clainatic conditions in Auckland to be unsuitable for the Yale telescope and that it will probaby be sent to South Africa has not caused much surprise to those in Dunedin who have been in touch with the negotiations with Yale. The local astronomical society' has been in communication with Dr Sehlesinger, director of Yale Observatory for over a year on the subject of the telescope that the Observatory is offering to lend; and it will be remembered that the negotiations seemed to promise a satisfactory result for Otago when suddenly the Mayor of Auckland (Air J. H. Gunson) announced that the instrument had been secured for Auckland city. Southern astronomers were quite well aware that the Auckland conditions were unsuitable, and Yale apparently has now ascertained the same fact. Auckland’s triumph in apparently securing the instrument and equipment over the head of its southern neighbour has been short lived. Mr J. C. Begg. the secretary and one of the mainstays of the Otago Astronomical Societv says it is pretty evident now that the telescope is going to Africa. About six weeks ago the society had a letter from Dr Sehlesinger. and in it he was very definite that if (he Auckland conditions proved unsuitable they would send the telescope to Africa. “1 do not think there is any hope of it coming here.” said Air Begg. “Ail along the Yale authorities have been stressing the necessity for it being near a large city, and of course that excludes the Central Otago district. The Otago society has pointed out the special advantages of the very southerly latitude of Otago, but Dr Sehlesinger, while admitting the general importance of that point, says that for his special purposes a lower latitude would be more suitable. “The decision against the Auckland conditions clearly strengthens the case for Government assistance for an observatory in Otago. The Otago Society indeed has a distinct grievance because at the time when it was carrying out final tests in Central Otago Auckland stepped in with the definite announcement that they had the telescope and that put an end to Government co-operation. It seems that Yalo has been carrying on negotiations simultaneously with Auckland, Otago, and South Africa in a not very satisfactory manner, and Air Begg personally is not inclined to support ally further communication with Yale. “I believe we will do far better,” lie said, “to go ahead with an observatory of our own and have it under our own control. We had a very generous offer towards the expense of the Yale telescope and it is quite likely that would be available our own. In a way the decision of Yale is a set back to New Zealand astronomy, but I think on the whole it is rather in the interests of astronomical science here that a large observatory should not be established in an unsuitable place.” In a lew of the importance of the issues and expenditure involved it seems strange that \ale. has been content to carry on ail inquiries by letter without sending any representative personally to investigate.