REPORT OF THE PRESIDENT, 1906. 27 



Observatory of Albany, New York. An outline of the preliminary arrange- 

 ments required for the work is given by Professor Boss in his report, 

 on pages 204-211. Hence it may suffice here to state that all essential 

 plans are perfected for a rapid and effective consummation of this arduous 

 undertaking. 



The varied and extensive operations of this department, under the direc- 

 tion of Prof. George E. Hale, on Mount Wilson and at Pasadena, California, 

 have made gratifying progress during the year. While 



Department of Solar ^^le artificers have been busily engaged, at the Union Iron 

 Physics. o » > 



Works at San Francisco and at the shops of the depart- 

 ment at Pasadena, in perfecting the mountings and equipment of the 60-inch 

 reflecting telescope, the staff at the Solar Observatory on Mount Wilson has 

 been equally active with the present limited equipment in the work of obser- 

 vation and in the more difficult work of interpreting the observed data. 



The great telescope just mentioned is now being mounted in a testing 

 laboratory at Pasadena, and its parts are expected to be ready for transpor- 

 tation to the summit of Mount Wilson early next spring. An indispensable 

 adjunct to the observatory on Mount Wilson is a physical laboratory, which 

 has been completed, equipped, and put in operation during the year. By 

 means of this laboratory many of the phenomena observed in the sun may 

 be reproduced artificially and studied thus deliberately and repeatedly. 



As explained in detail by Professor Hale, in his report on pages 60-86, 

 important results from the preliminary observations and studies at the observ- 

 atory have been already attained. Additional results are also forthcoming, 

 and there is no reason to doubt that these and other direct results which 

 may be expected to accrue rapidly will more than justify the cost of this 

 formidable enterprise. 



The signal success achieved by Prof. G. W. Ritchey, of the observatory 

 staff, in figuring and mounting reflecting telescopes has justly won the 

 admiration of the astronomical world and led other establishments to seek 

 his aid in telescopic construction. More gratifying still to him, to his 

 colleagues, and to the Institution is the enlightened appreciation of his skill 

 and the work of the Solar Observatory shown by Mr. John D. Hooker, a 

 citizen of lyos Angeles, California, who has offered to place at the disposal 

 of the observatory a sum sufficient to purchase and to figure a mirror 100 

 inches in diameter for a reflecting telescope. This generous offer of Mr. 

 Hooker has been recommended to the Trustees for acceptance b)- the Execu- 

 tive Committee. It is appropriate to state, also, in this connection, that 

 the Solar Observatory is indebted to Mr. Hooker for a cottage on Mount 

 Wilson, presented to the observatory before it became formally one of the 

 permanent establishments of the Institution. This cottage is now known 

 as "The Hooker Cottage," and is used chiefly for the accommodation of 

 transient guests. 



