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, 1959: 
The Astrophysical Observatory includes two divisions: the Division 
of Astrophysical Research, for the study of solar and other types of 
energy impinging on the earth, and the Division of Radiation and 
Organisms, for the investigation of radiation as it relates directly 
or indirectly to biological problems. Shops maintained in Washing- 
ton, for work in metals, woods, and optical electronics, prepare spe- 
cial equipment for both divisions, and a shop in Cambridge provides 
high-precision mechanical work. The field station at Table Moun- 
tain, Calif., carries out solar observations. 
DIVISION OF ASTROPHYSICAL RESEARCH 
The research carried on at the Observatory during the past year 
has produced gratifying results in the areas of solar astrophysics, 
upper atmosphere studies, meteoritical studies, and satellite science. 
Some long-term objectives have been reached. The resulting gains in 
knowledge and the development of advanced observational techniques 
have revealed fresh areas of research and established new goals. 
The Observatory has continued to maintain close liaison with Har- 
vard College Observatory, the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, 
and other research centers. This policy confers mutual benefits. 
Solar astrophysics ——At the Table Mountain station Alfred G. Froi- 
land, employing methods recently developed, has made progress in 
his attempts to determine, from the Smithsonian solar spectrobolo- 
grams, the amount of atmospheric ozone in a vertical path, both in 
the visible spectral range and in the infrared region. He continues 
his study of the quantity and quality of haze in the atmosphere. The 
availability of a datatron at the California Institute of Technology 
has broadened and simplified the scope of this work. These new 
techniques are expected to lead to a more accurate and consistent 
method of measurement. Already, they have provided evidence for 
the existence of other related effects of energy absorption in the upper 
atmosphere. 
Dr. Max Krook has developed two methods for determining the 
structure of nongray stellar atmospheres. They provide, for the first 
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