46 H. C. RUSSELL. 
the astrophotographic chart of the heavens, has been busily engaged 
taking the special photographs which the work demands, whenever 
the weather permitted, and by the way, I think we have had 
about the worst summer for such work I have ever known; for © 
as a rule when heavy cloud was absent, then hazy cloud took its 
place, so that in four months we only had four really fine nights, 
however by stealing photographs between the clouds we have got 
one hundred and forty six taken, rather more than one-tenth of 
what we have todo; we could get through the whole of it in 
two years, that is years with a fair share of fine weather. Prior — 
to the star chart work we succeeded in getting many invaluable 
photographs of nebulz clusters and other interesting portions of 
the sky, and the star camera was fitted with two enlarging lensesof 
different powers. With these enlarged pictures of star clusters 
have been taken, also of the moon in various phases, and of the 
planet Jupiter, also of the lunar eclipses on May 24th, and the 
transit of Mercury on May 10th. Special experiments have also 
been made with ordinary photograph lenses of short focus, to see 
if it would be possible to take star pictures, including portions of 
the heavens, 50° or 60° in diameter, and substitute them for 
ordinary star charts, the experiments are still in progress. 
Of the eighteen Observatories which originally accepted shares 
in the work of accurately photographing the heavens. The three 
in South America, Santiago, La Plata, and Rio de Janeiro have 
so far been unable, owing to political changes in that part of the 
world to begin the work, and pending the solution of their diffi- 
culties, it has been proposed that the Cape, Melbourne, and 
Sydney should take up the work allotted to South America. It 
is hoped however, that at least one new Observatory will be 
established in Australasia. Tasmania has a bequest of £10,000 for 
the foundation of a School of Astronomy, and it may be possible 
to combine this with the University work in such a way, that 
the photographic work may be taken up there. Tasmania is most 
favourably situated, both in regard to latitude and climate, to 
take a share in the work. 
: 
: 
4 
j 
