84 ANNUAL REPORT SMITHSONIAN INSTITUTION, 1958 
application of the formula indicates a value several times higher than 
previous estimates. Such information will greatly improve our 
understanding of solar-terrestrial relationships in general. Dr. Sterne 
is also developing general literal analytical theories of the motions 
of satellites of flattened planets. Since adequate numerical treat- 
ments are costly and time-consuming, a comprehensive analytical 
treatment is desirable to facilitate the inference of air densities, and 
possibly of gravitational anomalies, from observations of satellites. 
Balloon experiments relating to stellar scintillation are being carried 
out by Dr. J. Allen Hynek and George J. Nielson, in cooperation with 
Col. David G. Simons of the Aero Medical Field Laboratory, Hollo- 
man Air Force Base, the Winzen Laboratories of Minneapolis, and the 
Massachusetts Institute of Technology Instrumentation Laboratories. 
This project hopes to determine how the scintillation spectrum varies 
with atmospheric height and the altitude at which the scintillation 
effect terminates; to test miniature instrumentation for future use; 
and to initiate an airborne research program for the Astrophysical 
Observatory. 
A new technique that will extend astronomical observations to the 
far ultraviolet region of the spectrum and to the X-ray region is being 
developed by the Director and Robert J. Davis of the Observatory 
staff. This involves the design of a telescope for use in space, and 
the completion of related theoretical scientific and engineering studies. 
The Director completed a theoretical study of the nature and thick- 
ness of the lunar dust layer. He concludes that the layer of loose dust 
is not appreciable and that it can consolidate into a porous matrix, 
so that it will not be a major hindrance to our exploration of the moon. 
Meteoritical studies.—Research on meteors has been emphasized at 
the Astrophysical Observatory. The Director’s predictions as to the 
small number of meteoritic bodies likely to strike vehicles in space have 
been supported by the early data from the artificial earth satellites. 
Continuing studies of the relation between meteors and comets are 
expected to yield more information about the nature and origin of 
comets. Under the supervision of Dr. Luigi G. Jacchia, some 400 
meteors photographed with Super-Schmidt cameras have been ana- 
lyzed to determine the nature and distribution of meteoritic orbits. 
From analysis of the atmospheric decelerations, light curves, and 
photographic appearances, he concludes that meteors are highly frag- 
mentable and often dissolve into a cluster of fragments. He finds no 
evidence for meteors of asteroidal origin among the precise data from 
the 400 reductions, and no hyperbolic meteors have been certainly 
detected. All photographic meteors appear to be of cometary origin. 
From a comparison of visual and photographic magnitudes of meteors, 
