476 



SCIENCE. 



[N. S. Vol. IX. No. 222. 



pean natioual observatories affords the means of 

 supplementing, in a valuable manner, the work 

 carried on bj' them, while our more southern 

 latitude extends the limit and increases the ac- 

 curacy of useful observation below the equator. 



2. The sphere of work of a National Observ- 

 atory appears to me to comprise mainly such 

 classes of research as cannot well be undertaken 

 by university observatories. Of these we have 

 quite a number, some with the most powerful 

 of equipments, but in general they are likely, 

 I think, to devote themselves to investigations 

 which promise an immediate return of results. 

 The systematic continuous observation of the 

 bodies of the solar system for position, such as 

 has been prosecuted at Greenwich ; the con- 

 struction of catalogues of fundamental stars, 

 such as those furnished by the Pulkowa observ- 

 atory ; the procuring and measurement of photo- 

 graphic plates of the heavens on the plan 

 inaugurated by the observatory at Paris, seem 

 to me, for instance, fields which require such 

 large resources as scarcely any but a national 

 institution can command. 



3. I should consider the present site of the 

 New Naval Observatory an admirable one and 

 the equipment in a considerable degree suffi- 

 cient for the purposes of a National Observatory 

 There should, doubtless, be added a powerful 

 photographic apparatus. 



W. L. Elkin. 

 Yale Uxiveesity Obseevatoey. 



To THE Editor of Science : At your re- 

 quest I give my opinion on some questions re- 

 lating to the establishment of a national ob- 

 servatory in this country, although I believe 

 that it does not differ materially from the 

 opinions of other American astronomers. 



It seems to me highly desirable that the 

 United States, like other leading governments, 

 should support a national astronomical observa- 

 tory. In the U. S. Naval Observatory, the 

 honorable history of which has recently been 

 so well told in these pages by Professor Skin- 

 ner, the government already possesses suitable 

 buildings and instruments and certain changes 

 in the organization are alone required to con- 

 vert this institution into a national observatory 

 of the first rank. 



The ophiion, which is probably widely held 

 among astronomers, that this observatory would 

 be benefited by a change in its organization, is 

 based on general considerations and does not 

 reflect on any individuals or class of men. The 

 splendid efficiency of our naval officers in their 

 own profession is due not merely to natural 

 ability and aptitude, but to a long course of 

 preparatory technical training. Astronomy is 

 likewise a science which demands the whole of 

 a man's best energies. Common sense, there- 

 fore, as well as the example of other nations, 

 clearly indicates that a national observatory 

 should be under the charge of an officer who 

 has made astronomy his life work. To place it 

 under the charge of one whose training has 

 been along different lines is as objectionable as 

 would be the appointment of civilians to re- 

 sponsible military commands. 



The work of a national observatory would 

 naturally lie mainly in the field of the older as- 

 tronomy, more particularly in the making and 

 discussion of those fundamental observations of 

 the positions of the heavenly bodies which owe 

 a large part of their value to their continuitj^, 

 and which, therefore, require permanent, thor- 

 ough organization and secure financial support. 

 The private or small observatory enjoys the 

 privilege, in some degree compensatory for the 

 many disadvantages under which it generally 

 labors, of taking up researches of doubtful 

 promise without being called to account in case 

 of failure. The elaborately equipped and or- 

 ganized government institution devotes most of 

 its energies to work of which the results are 

 certain, the exploration of new fields and ex- 

 periments in general having only a secondary 

 place in its program. 



Professor Skinner's article shows that only a 

 small part of the work done at the Naval Ob- 

 servatory has any direct reference to the needs 

 of the Navy Department, while by far the 

 greater part is such as would properly come 

 under the province of a national observatory. 

 The requirements of the navy could, I think, 

 easily be met by a national observatory by 

 adopting such methods of cooperation as al- 

 ready exist in other parts of the government 

 service. James E. Keeler. 



Lick Obseevatoey. 



