place in a few weeks. Mr. O. L. Petitididier, of Chicago, has kiiully loa:;e;l 

 the Observatory a paral:>olic mirror fiftefu inches in diameter and with 

 a focal length of 120 inches, wliich he constructed at his optical works. 

 The monnting for tliis mirror lias l)een designed l)y Mr. W. A. Cogshall 

 and in large part constructed l)y him. Tlie reflector will be in place by 

 the first of Marcli and will l)e used cliielly in photographing nebulse. 



These instruments, together with a portrait lens of five inches aperture 

 and a Browning equatorial of four inches aperture, which for many years 

 have been the property of The University, constitute a nucleus around 

 which the University authorities hope to collect a more complete eqiiip- 

 menir. 



The Observatory is located on the University campus, about 300 feet 

 from the nearest building. With practicallj' an unljroken horizon within 

 75 degrees of the zenitli--as low as one can usually observe, aud in most 

 instances the view is entirely unobstructed. 



We have found the seeing at the 01)servatory fair. On an average 

 clear night a power of 300 can be used effectually; on about half the 

 working nights we use a power of 4S0, while a night when a power of 

 more than GOO can be used is comparatively rare. 



The Observatory is essentially a Students' Observatory. Those who 

 take courses in general astronomy are permitted to use the telescope a 

 limited number of hours each week, and though this work is optional, few 

 fail to avail themselves of an oppcu'timity to use the telescope an hour. 

 No accurate measurements or really scientilic work is attempted I)y these 

 students*. 



In addition to the work in spherical and practical astronomy and 

 woi"k carried on by the teaching force certain students are encouraged to 

 undertake work in the nature of research. Tliis generally consists of 

 drawing planetaiy details or in making micrometical measures of doulde 

 stars or of planetary disks. The observing lists are made out under 

 the direction of the instructors and in general consist of stars that need 

 measuring. We are engaged at present in measuring the double stars 

 discovered in the process of making the catalogues of the Astronomische 

 Gesellschaft. Tliese as a rule are not difficult ol).1ects. Also search is 

 being made for new pairs with a fair degree of success. 



The Observatory Ijears the name of Dr. Daniel Kirkwood, the emi- 

 nent astronomer, who, for nearly half a century, was a member of the 

 faculty of Indiana University and who, by his manly qualities, won the 



