PRESIDENTIAL ADDRESS. 29 
earth, and the relative radiation of the various portions of 
the solar surface. (2) Studies of various solar phenomena, 
particularly through the use of powerful spectroscopes and 
spectroheliographs. (3) Photographic and spectroscopic investi- 
gations of the stars and nebulae with a very powerful reflecting 
. telescope for the principal purpose of throwing light on the 
problem of stellar evolution. There will be an attempt to realise 
more completely laboratory conditions in astrophysical research 
through the employment of fixed telescopes of the coeleostat 
type, and through the adoption of a Coudé mounting for the 
5 ft. reflector, which will be one of the chief instruments 
employed. This would permit the use of mirrors or objectives of 
great focal length, providing a large image of the sun for study 
with spectroscopes and spectroheliographs, the use of long focus 
gratings mounted in a fixed position in constant temperature, 
laboratories, and the use of various laboratory instruments, such 
as the radiometer, which cannot now be used with a moving 
telescope. The Observatory will also have a workshop for the 
providing and designing of new instruments, and for the repair or 
adapting of the older telescopes. The Yerkes Observatory has 
lent the Snow telescope, which is already installed on Mount 
Wilson ; this instrument will eventually be returned when the 
Mount Wilson workshop has provided its Observatory with a 
similar instrument. The Bruce telescope has also been installed 
on the mountain during the summer of 1905, and Professor 
Barnard has been engaged with it in completing his photographic 
studies of the Milky Way. The present staff consists of Professor 
Hale, the director ; Professor G. W. Ritchey, astronomer and 
superintendent of instrumental construction; and Professor 
Ferdinand Ellerman and Professor W. S. Adams, assistant 
astronomers. 
Conference of Australian Astronomers.—From 10th-16th 
May, 1905, a conference of the Directors of the different 
Australian State Observatories was held in Adelaide 
under the chairmanship of Sir Charles Todd, M.A., K.C.M.G., 
