ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

Taranaki Daily News, 23 September 1920, Page 2

ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

WORK IN NEW PLYMOUTH. The executive council of the New Plymouth Astronomical Society met on Tuesday evening at the residence of the president, Mr. S. Percy Smith, who occupied the chair. There was a good attendance of members. The treasurer (Mr. T. M. Avery) reported that a debit balance of £l7 Is 4d would be made good as soon as the outstanding subscriptions were paid in. The names of twelve new life and ordinary members were proposed and sustained. Mr. F. J. Morshead was appointed assistant secretary. The director (Rev. 0. Blundell) reported the observatory is getting into working order. Improvements to the mechanism of the six-ineh refractor have been completed with very satisfactory results. A large number of people have t visited the observatory since the opening and have been shown various celestial objects of special interest. The telescope proves to be a very fine one and gives excellent views of the star clusters and nebulae. On certain especially good nights splendid observations of detail upon the surface of the moon have been obtained. Mr. P. J. Morshead shared with the director the work of operating the telescope. Messrs. D. Wilkinson and E. A. Anderson are shortly to be added to the voluntary staff of qualified observing members. The observatory is open to nonmembers on. Thursday evenings from 8 .to 10 o'clock, and on Sunday evenings from 8.30 to 10 o'clock. Senior scholars at the primary schools may visit the observatory on Tuesday evenings and High .School scholars on Friday evenings. All members and others are advised that when the moon is at full observations arc not of a very satisfactory nature. The best views of our satellites are obtained either before or after that phase. To sec the star clusters and nebulae at their best, the observatory should be visited when there is no moon visible. For planetary observations moonlight is an advantage.