PRESIDENT’S ADDRESS. 159 
of data which are more urgently needed, rather than to a more 
adventurous exploration of the heavens, which, though it might 
appeal with greater attractiveness to the popular tastes of the 
age, can be postponed with less detriment to the best interests 
of astronomical science. 
Let us consider the situation. 
Sidereal astronomy is well advanced in the Southern Hemi- 
sphere. Indeed it was said, ten years ago, that we were ahead 
of the Northern Hemisphere in point of exact star catalogues, 
namely, that our skies were richer in accurately-determined 
positions of landmarks, as Herschel put it, than the northern. 
In many other respects, however, our knowledge of the southern 
heavens is deficient, and there are, indeed, numerous paths which 
still remain, some partly, some entirely, unexplored. Yet so far 
as we in Australia are concerned, it seems to me that there can 
be very little hesitation as to our best course, for the strongest 
claims to our co-operation are advanced by celestial photography, 
fundamental transit circle observations, and investigations for the 
improvement of both these branches of astronomy, which should, 
therefore, be the objects of our endeavours in the present and imme- 
diate future. Indeed these cover a large field; but our share in 
their general development is well defined, and upon it we may 
safely devote all our forces with the certainty of doing what is 
best for the present requirements of astronomy. 
It is well known that at a Congress of the leading astrono- 
mical authorities in the world, held in Paris in 1887, under the 
auspices of the French Academy of Science, a great scheme was 
proposed and decided, by which a permanent record of the 
appearance of the heavens as could be grasped by the largest 
modern telescopes would be left as our heritage to the future 
generations of astronomers. 
That the record should be so comprehensive as to give the 
position of all stars from the brightest to the 11th order of mag- 
nitude on Argelander scale with an accuracy as great or greater 
than that of the best catalogues of our day, and a chart contain- 
ing all stars down to the 14th magnitude. A project of this 
nature was made possible only when photography had established 
its capabilities in the service of astronomy. It would have been 
beyond the powers of any single institution to accomplish such a 
task, and the co-operation of Observatories in the Northern and 
Southern Hemispheres was sought. Eighteen Observatories joined 
in the undertaking, giving their pledge to execute their propor- 
tionate share, submitting faithfully to the rules which would be 
laid down by the congress for the realisation of a scheme which, 
in point of breadth, thoroughness, and far-reaching influence, 
must be recognised as the greatest ever initiated in the history 
of astronomy. 
