Report on the Astropliysical Observatory 



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

 erations of the Smithsonian Astropliysical Observatory for the fiscal 

 year ended June 30, 1962 : 



The Astrophysical Observatory includes two divisions : the division 

 of astrophysical research in Cambridge, Mass., for the study of solar 

 and other types of energy impinging on the earth; and the division 

 of radiation and organisms in Washington, for the investigation of 

 radiation as it relates directly or indirectly to biological problems. 

 Shops are maintained in Washington for work in metals, woods, and 

 optical electronics, and to prepare special equipment for both di- 

 visions ; and a shop conducted in cooperation with the Harvard College 

 Observatory in Cambridge provides high-precision mechanical work. 

 The field station at Table Mountain, Calif., was discontinued. Twelve 

 satellite-tracking stations are in operation, in Florida, Hawaii, and 

 New Mexico in the United States and abroad in Argentina, Australia, 

 Curasao, India, Iran, Japan, Peru, South Africa, and Spain. 



DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICAL RESEARCH 



The Observatory research staff made significant contributions to 

 knowledge of solar astrophysics, meteors, meteorites, artificial satel- 

 lites, geophysics, and space science. The continuing refinement of 

 observational techniques and the development of new analytical meth- 

 ods provided valuable data and opened up new areas of astrophysical 

 investigation. 



The Observatory continued, with mutual benefit, its close liaison 

 with Harvard College Observatory, the Massachusetts Institute of 

 Technology, Boston University, and other research centers. 



Solar astrophysics. — Dr. Leo Goldberg, with Dr. William Liller, is 

 directing the design and construction of the ultraviolet scanning 

 spectrometer for flight in the S-17 satellite within the framework of 

 the program of Orbiting Solar Observatories of the National Aero- 

 nautics and Space Administration. The spectral range of the spec- 

 trometer will be 500 A. to 1,500 A. and the resolving power will be 

 about 1.0 A. Calibration and testing of the instrument packages 

 will be carried out in a new laboratory of the Space Science Building. 



The scanning spectrometers are scheduled for rocket flights at the 

 end of 1962 and for flight aboard the S-17 satellite during the first 

 quarter of 1963. 



672-174—63 6 71 



