APPENDIX 8 

 Report on the Astrophysical Observatory 



Sm : I have the honor to submit the following report on the oper- 

 ations of the Astrophysical Observatory for the fiscal year ended 

 June 30, 1953. 



The Astrophysical Observatory comprises two divisions : the orig- 

 inal division of astrophysical research devoted to solar radiation prob- 

 lems, and the division of radiation and organisms established in 1929 

 to study the effects of radiation on organisms. Funds available for 

 the Observatory included an allotment of $119,841.10 from "Salaries 

 and expenses, Smithsonian Institution, 1953," and $2,500 from private 

 funds of the Institution. At the end of the fiscal year all equipment 

 and buildings were in satisfactory condition. 



DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICAL RESEARCH 



Two high-altitude observing stations, on Montezuma, Chile, and 

 Table Mountain, Calif., have continued in operation. The goal of 

 the two stations is to obtain complete solar-constant observations by 

 the long or short method, or both, on each day presenting a sky suffi- 

 ciently clear and uniform for satisfactory results. 



The principal and most time-consuming event of the year was the 

 preparation of volume 7 of the Annals of the Astrophysical Observa- 

 tory. The completed manuscript, covering the work of the division 

 of astrophysical research during the years 1939 through 1952, was 

 submitted to the editor on April 29, 1953. The following are the 

 main subjects included: 



1. Studies of the characteristics of the silver-disk pyrheliometer. 



2. Recent tests of the Smithsonian standard water-flow pyrheli- 



ometer. 



3. Ultraviolet and infrared corrections to the solar constant. 



4. The scale of the solar-constant record. 



5. Instrumental developments. 



6. Summaries of total sun and sky radiation, and the relative 



energy in ultraviolet, visible, and infrared regions, as meas- 

 ured at Camp Lee, Va., Miami, Fla., and Montezuma, Chile. 



7. Description of the method of Dr. Oliver R. Wulf, of the United 



States Weather Bureau, for determining the amount of ozone 

 above Table Mountain, Calif., from regular solar-constant 

 holographs. 



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