SOLAR PHYSICS COMMITTEE 35 



Adelaide Observatory — Mr. Dodwell, Government Astronomer of 



South Australia. 

 Royal Society of N.S.W. — Professor Baldwin Spencer, C.M.G. , F.R.S. 

 Royal Society of Victoria — Dr. Love. 

 Royal Society of South Australia — -Dr. Pulleine. 

 N.S.W. Branch of British Astronomical Association — Mr. Merfield. 

 Astronomical Society of South Australia — Mr. Dodwell, Government 



Astronomer. 



Lord Dudley, who opened the proceedings, stated that the 

 great reason in favour of the estabUshment of a well-equipped 

 Solar Observatory in the Commonwealth arose from the geographical 

 position, which seemed to mark out Australia as most suited to fill 

 the gap which at present existed in the chain of Observatories round 

 the earth. It was obvious that the proper conduct of solar research 

 depended upon a continuous series of observations being made 

 throughout the 24 hours during which the earth rotated once about 

 her a.xis, and presented different parts of her surface in succession 

 to the sun. This could not be done from one Observatory alone, 

 and was the chief reason for the formation of the International 

 Union. At present the work of solar observation was being carried 

 on in three well-defined areas. There was a great break between 

 Cahfornia and India, extending over a distance of 150 deg., or nearly 

 half the earth's circumference, and the international importance of 

 this project arose from the desirabihty of tilling this gap, and thus 

 completing the chain of solar observatories round the world. It 

 seemed that Australia possessed one notable site-advantage over 

 Japan for the proposed station, namely, that this country is 

 south of the line. Observations could be made most successfully in 

 Australia from November to May, which was just the time when 

 observations could be least successfully made in the existing 

 stations in the United States, Europe, and India, owing to the 

 rainy seasons. Moreover, Australia was peculiarly favoured for 

 this branch of research by her climatic conditions, by the abundance 

 of her sunshine, and by the clearness of her atmosphere. It has 

 been estimated that a minimum capital expenditure of £10,000 

 would be required, and that the maintenance would involve an 

 annual expenditure of at least £1,500. No more notable monu- 

 ment could be raised to the memory of a great Australian by his 

 friends and relatives than the endowment in whole or part of a 

 Solar Observatory. It would be little short of a national mis- 

 fortune, if, for the sake of a few thousand pounds, Australia failed 

 to take the place amongst the nations of the world in scientific 

 research for which her geographical position marked her out. This 

 country appeared destined by nature for the work, and it was 

 doubtful whether it could be done anywhere else so well as here. 

 The location of the new station in Australia would mean that three 

 out of the four necessary links in the chain of observatories 

 would be within the Empire, and that all four; — the American, the 

 British, the Indian, and Austrahan — would be run by English- 



