Astronomy and physics

✍ Scribed by C.F.H.

• Publisher: Elsevier Science
• Year: 1887
• Tongue: English
• Weight: 570 KB
• Volume: 124
• Category: Article
• ISSN: 0016-0032
• DOI: 10.1016/0016-0032(87)90310-3

✦ Synopsis

Picketing, I)irector of tJ~e l-[arvard College Observatory, has kindly permitted the reproduction in this issue of the Joua,','a~ of several examples of his photographs of stellar spectra, which along with those illustrating his report on the Henry Draper Memorial, also appearing in this issue, will convey some indication of the great progress made in this direction during the last five years. As marking an important epoch in a research beset with difficulties, and yet promising results of supreme interest, these marvellous spectra deserve especial attention. The prints of the spectra are phototype reproductions o f the original negative without correction.

Before more particularly remarking upon the photographs of stellar spectra, it seems proper, briefly here to refer the collateral work on the photography of the stars now being conducted at Harvard. In a paper, entitled "An Investigation in Stellar Photography," published some months since, and which is alike rich in theoretical considerations, and in description of important results attained, Prof. Pickering contributes the most valuable development of the subject now accessible. It'covers the essentials in the whole range of celestial photography, and we limit ourselves to the selection of a few items of general interest.

Stellar photography originated in an experiment made at the Harvard