Report on the Astrophysical Observatory 



Sir : I have the honor to submit the following report on the opera- 

 tions of the Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory for the fiscal 

 year ended June 30, 1964 : 



DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICAL RESEARCH 



The Smithsonian Astrophysical Observatory's broad research pro- 

 gram* this past year embraced six major areas — planetary science, 

 meteoritic studies, cometary science, solar observation, stellar observa- 

 tion, and stellar theory. This division of the research program is 

 wholly arbitrary, and the six areas are strongly interrelated. 



A recent work of the director of the Observatory is an example 

 of the amalgamation of several of these topics. For the 100th anni- 

 versary of the U.S. National Academy of Sciences, held in Wash- 

 ington in October 1963, Dr. "Whipple was invited to present a critical 

 summary on the history of the solar system. This lecture, consider- 

 ably expanded to present his interpretation of the present state of 

 theoi-y of the evolution of the solar system, is now in press for the 

 Academy's Proceedings. In preparing this summaiy. Dr. Wliipple 

 reviewed critically a number of the processes visualized as opera- 

 tive in the earlier stages of the evolution of our solar system. In 

 the coming years Observatory scientists will expand their explorations 

 in these areas. 



A strong feature of the Observatory's scientific program is the ease 

 with which a scientist investigating a particular topic may draw on 

 experience and techniques generated by others pursuing different 

 topics. Thus the expertise developed by the Baker-Nunn network 

 for tracking satellites has been applied to an enlarged program of 

 comet and flare star observations. 



Planetary sciences. — With each year of mounting space activity, 

 the other planets seem less remote. Popular response and scientific 

 attention to planetary studies seem destined to increase as we approach 

 the ultimate objective of manned exploration. The current studies 

 of the earth, facilitated and stimulated by satellite observations, will 

 eventually be repeated for the other planets. At present these geo- 



♦Unless otherwise noted, research Is supported from Federal funds appropriated to 

 Smithsonian Institution. The Observatory, by paying scientists' salaries, ehares In the 

 support of all research. Support from outside sourcea is detailed in footnotes 1-17 

 (p. 177). 



157 



