A smaller building in the Western part of the grounds 

 contains an excellent instrument for photographic work of 

 more precise definition. 



The Observatory (or Sternwarte — in the national vernac- 

 ular, meaning literally, waiting for the stars.) forms a depart- 

 ment of the Vienna University, and theoretically, is subject to 

 the same general governing authority that controls all the 

 other departments; but, practically, it is independent and eon- 

 ducted entirely under the direction of Dr. Weiss. 



Lectures by Professors Weiss and Hepperger are delivered 

 at the University building on Franzensring during the first 

 semester, upon the general principles or introduction to the 

 study of astronomy, but throughout the second semester, in- 

 struction is given at the Observatory in practical work, the 

 use of the instruments, observations and calculations. 



The expense's are met by appropriations from the Parlia- 

 ment, which, however, are seldom large enough to meet the 

 demands constantly arising by reason of the rapid advances in 

 the science, more particularly in the lines of photography and 

 astro-physics. When the present Observatory was completed, 

 celestial photography was in its childhood ; the spectrum had 

 not yet been applied to the equatorial and the word astro- 

 physics had not been coined. With the exception of the zone 

 of the Asteroids, the discovery of a new body or of a double 

 star was a rare event, and the instruments purchased were 

 adapted for use on the lines of the older astronomy. Observa- 

 tories were not then, as now, located all over the earth; the 

 losing track of a celestial body was considered a serious matter. 

 and, therefore, the principal work of this Observatory has been 

 in observations of comets, the planets and the moon; in correct- 

 ing old errors regarding nebulae; charting the positions and 

 orbits of the planets, and the comparison of later observations 

 with those of Herschel, with considerable attention to the 

 double and variable stars. 



Professor Weiss has long been desirous of having the 

 facilities for celestial photography and astro-physics. He has 

 sent his assistants to England and other places to acquire the 

 necessary information and skill, and he has also labored with 

 tongue and pen to obtain the instruments necessary for this 

 work. But these are expensive, and the necessary funds have 

 not been forthcoming, for so many demands are made upon 

 the public treasury by the numerous institutions of learning, 

 that the Minister of that department of the government who 

 has such matters in his care, has not yet been able to secure 

 from Parliament an appropriation sufficiently large to meet 

 the wishes of Dr. Weiss, although during the last year an ex- 

 cellent photographic instrument was secured and placed in a 

 new building erected West of the main structure. 



36 



