Transactions of the Academy 



This record is continued from page 42, Volume VIII, of the Bul- 

 letin, January, 1909. 



FEBRUARY. 



At the meeting of the Academy on February 1, 1909. a very large 

 audience gathered at Blanchard Hall and listened with intense interest 

 to Professor George E. Hale, who described the late work on Mount 

 Wilson and the results, so far obtained, of his observations of the sun. 



The construction of the Snow Reflector ami the newly completed 

 60-inch Reflector, with their housings was explained and views of the 

 sun-spots showing their right and left-handed vortices and the hydrogen 

 flocculi were thrown upon the screen. These observations seem to prove, 

 almost conclusively, the existence of a magnetic field in sun-spots, and 

 the polarization of the light, both from these spots and from other 

 portions of the sun's surface will undoubtedly give results which will 

 be the foundation for the examination of the constituent qualities of 

 the stars. 



The enormous light-gathering power of the new 60-inch Reflector 

 and the sharpness of its power of definition were show T n in the photo- 

 graph of the great nebula of Orion, the most wonderful celestial 

 photograph ever taken, and exhibited this evening before this Acad- 

 emy, for the first time. This photograph is to be show T n to the Astro- 

 nomical Bodies of Europe by Prof. Hale during the coming summer. 



The Lnvestigation-s by means of these powerful telescopes have 

 already begun to show the origin of the stars ami planets; their con- 

 densation from nebulae and their evolution through periods of time — 

 illimitable to us — to ;i condition when the star blazes in its full 

 maturity, and its satellites, or planets, are the homes of vegetable and 

 animal life, through old age, extinction and death. 



It is the proud distinction of this Academy to place upon record 

 the first public declaration of the results of the examination of our sun, 

 the stars and nebulae, by means of this 60-inch Reflector. 



The following communication from Hofrat, Professor, Doctor Ed- 

 mund Weiss, Director of the Vienna. Observatory (Sternwarte), . was 

 read and received with pleasure, viz.: 



"Vienna, Hi January, 1909. 

 "XVIII Spottlegasse 19. 



"The Southern California Academy of Sciences, Los Angeles. 



''I return my sincere thanks to the esteemed Academy of Sciences 

 for the honor which she has conferred on me by the election as Hon- 

 orary Member — an honor which I highly appreciate. 



May 1 add that it will always afford me a great satisfaction if I 

 can assist the Academy in her scope and endeavors to promote sciences, 

 and that 1 will send henceforth my papers to her Library. 



"I conclude in expressing to the Academy of Sciences my hearty 

 wishes in the motto of our Universities, 



"Vivat. Floreat, Crescat, 



"PROF. DR. EDMUND WEISS." 



With hearty thanks to Prof. Hale, the Academy adjourned. 



A meeting of the Directors was held in Blanchard Hall at / :45 

 o'clock P. M., on February 1, 1909, at which E. H. Rose and Dr. 

 Thomas A. Rex were elected members. 



Professor George E. Hale and Dr. J. H. Maiden of Sidney, Xew 

 South Wales, were elected Honorary Members of the Academy, and the 

 Board adjourned. 



76 



