ASTRONOMY. 31 



New Observatories. 



Dr. Lobse contributes to the Astronomical Register for 

 August an account of the Astrophysikalischen Institut, 

 now building: at Potsdam. It is on an elevated site, and 



CD 7 



the grounds contain 179,000 square meters. There are at 

 present finished four dwelling-houses (three for observers 

 and assistants) and the machinery-house. The observatory 

 proper is in progress, and will be completed during 1877. 

 One part of the scientific establishment is already com- 

 pleted,- viz., a well of forty-six meters deep, with horizontal 

 shafts connected with it. This is to serve for observations 

 where a constant temperature is required, for observations 

 on the temperatures of the soil, etc. The observatory will 

 have three domes a central (to contain a 12-inch equatorial 

 by Schroder), a western (to contain an 8-inch by Grubb), 

 and an eastern (to contain a 5-inch). A photoheliograph 

 will be erected north of the central tower, and the physi- 

 cal, chemical, and photographic laboratories will be suit- 

 ably placed in the main building. The work undertaken 

 will be spectroscopic observations of the sun and stars, ob- 

 servations of the nebulae and double stars, on the physical 

 nature of the planets, etc., photographic researches of all 

 kinds and photographic registration of sun-spots. The ob- 

 servatory is managed by a "Direction" of three members 

 Auwers, Forster, and Kirchhoff. At present there are 

 three astronomers Vogel, Sporer, and Lohse. 



The Wilna Observatory was destined by fire on Decem- 

 ber 2S, 1876. In spite of strenuous efforts, only some of the 

 books and smaller instruments were saved. The refractor 

 and the photoheliograph were totally destroyed. This is 

 much to be regretted, as we owe to Wilna a larg;e number 

 of excellent photographs of the sun, a regular series of 

 which was kept up. It is to be hoped that the negatives 

 of these photographs have been preserved. 



Ex-Governor C. C. Washburn intends, during the next 

 year, to erect and equip an astronomical observatory for 

 the University of Wisconsin. This gift will be made avail- 

 able by an annual appropriation for its support from the 

 state. The firm of Clark and Sons are now making a 

 10-inch equatorial for this observatory. 



