128 CARNEGIK INSTITUTION 



Appendix C to Report of Committee on Astronomy. 



PROGRESS AND PRESENT STATE OF CERTAIN DE- 

 PARTMENTS OF ASTROPHYSICAL RESEARCH. 



By George E. Hale. 



Professor E. C. Pickering, 



Chairman of Advisory Committee on Astronomy. 



Sir : The remarks in this paper are made with special reference 

 to certain researches which deal with the physical and chemical con- 

 stitution of the heavenly bodies. The science of astrophysics, which 

 makes such researches its principal object, has developed with great 

 rapiditj^ during the half century that has elapsed since its founda- 

 tions were laid by Kirchhoff and Bunsen. From beginnings which 

 of necessity involved much work of a purely qualitative character, 

 the science has advanced to a position in which the demand for 

 precision is no less exacting and is no less fully attained than in the 

 most rigorous astronomical investigations. The nature of the 

 methods employed and the possibilities of instrumental construc- 

 tion permit us to hope that a still higher degree of precision may 

 be expected in the immediate future. 



The general suggestions embodied in the report of the Advisory 

 Committee meet my views at all points. There can be no doubt 

 that the most serious need of funds is for the more complete utiliza- 

 tion of existing equipment. One has only to contrast the exten- 

 sive instrumental outfit of our observatories with the wholly inad- 

 equate provision for assistants and computers in order to realize 

 this. Furthermore, there is great need for the establishment of an 

 astronomical institution which can provide facilities, especially in 

 the southern hemisphere, for the prosecution of special researches. 

 The plan for this observatory need not be discussed here, as it is 

 fully set forth in Appendix A. But I wish to offer some remarks 

 on the importance of new instruments, as it is possible that the 

 statement of the Committee on this subject may be misinterpreted 

 by some who are unfamiliar with the nature of astrophysical re- 

 search. Let me repeat, however, that I regard the needs here sug- 

 gested as second in importance to the present requirement of more 

 assistants and computers. 



