ASTRONOMICAL WORK

Taranaki Daily News, 14 November 1934, Page 3

ASTRONOMICAL WORK

NEW PLYMOUTH SOCIETY DIRECTOR’S ANNUAL REVIEW. USEFUL OBSERVATIONS MADE. The chief aim of the society, the fostering of a general interest in astronomy, has been consistently followed by the officials and honorary observers, states the report of the director of the' New Plymouth Astronomical Society (Mr. F. J. Morshead), to be presented to the annual meeting to-morrow night. Although weather, conditions have not been generally favourable, continues the report, with the assistance of Mr. Sydney Mayer, who recently qualified as an observer, the number and quality of the observations have been maintained at the •high standard reached in previous years. Two members resigned and two were received, leaving the membership as before, 45 life and ordinary subscribing members, one junior and three honorary members. Visitors to the observatory were 224, nearly double the number recorded last year, making a grand total of 7260 since records were instituted. Realising that the rules which governed the constitution of the society were not sufficiently comprehensive to include its present extended activities, the council appointed a committee with Mr. Little' as convener to submit suitable amendments. These alterations were formally accepted by the council and will be submitted for confirmation. The society is once more indebted to Mr. P. W. Glover, of Apia, Samoa, for another generous gift of astronomical literature. It includes parts of “The Observatory” and publications of the British Astronomical Society, besides nine volumes of “Transactions of the New Zealand Institute,” and various other publications, over 100 separate items, which are a very valuable addition to the society’s library. 1 have also to acknowledge receipt from British and foreign institutions of various publications, and regret that we are unable to exchange with publications of our own. The telescope and other equipment at the observatory have been kept in the same good working condition, the equatorial and clock-driving mechanism being still a weak link, although quite good work is being done with it. The chronometer has continued to give an excellent time service, having now been in constant use for six years without overhaul. Observers have been most attentive to their duties, with a total of 153 attendances for the year; 224 visitors were entertained on 51 evenings, while 96 visits were recorded for the purpose of making special observations, and on six evenings when conditions were fine no visitors appeared. OBSERVATIONS FOR THE YEAR. Lunar occultations: Six occultations of stars by the moon were recorded, and accurate times of disappearance obtained in each case. This is probably the most important work we do, our results being used in conjunction with those of a world-wide group of observatories in an endeavour to obtain a more accurate check on the moon’s motion in space. The Sun: The minimum of sun-spot activity occurred last year, which accounts for the smaller number of spots recorded. Sixty-five observations on 64 separate days were made, when 34 projection drawings of the sun’s surface were executed. These depicted a total of 121 spots, belonging to 16 groups. Variable Stars: Towards the end of the year Mr. Mayer commenced observing in this section, and in a few weeks obtained 23 good estimates. Mr. Wilkinson has continued the observation of seven selected variables, his total being 370 for the year. The director has also observed on a few occasions, making a total of 400 or more.

Meteors; Early in the year we were invited to join with other New Zealand observers in a concerted endeavour to obtain definite information relative to the numbers and heights of shooting stars on certain evenings when the meteor observers attached to the Byrd Antarctic Expedition had arranged to collaborate. On one evening we obtained excellent results, 46 meteors during a watch of three hours, but owing to cloud interfering at other stations no accordinances were obtainable. Six telescopic meteors were recorded during the year. Comets: No comets were observed during the year. A search for new unknown comets has been maintained when possible, the particulars recorded being Mr. Mayer 4 hours, Mr. Geddes half an hour and the director 14,i hours, a total of hours. The close conjunction of the planets Venus and Jupiter during August created a fair amount of interest, a noticeable feature being the interest taken by children in the unusual proximity of two such bright objects in the evening sky. No outstanding planetary phenomena were recorded.

The actual recording of observations does not usually take up much time, but the reductions and measurements require close application and, in connection with the solar section, especially necessary measurements etc., preparation of monthly returns and reports sometimes require several hours work. I have to thank all those who have contributed to the progress of the society. Foremost are the observers, Messrs. Wilkinson, Mayer and Geddes (the latter when home on holiday), for helpful assistance at the observatory in the entertainment of visitors. Last but not least thanks are due to the Press.