The Hon. Director's Report.

The Honorary Director, Mr J. T. Ward, presented the following report:—

Mr President, Ladies and Gentlemen,—With the expiration of our fourth annual session comes the necessity and the pleasure of informing you of the work at the Observatory during the past twelve months. People, at a loss for something to say, generally talk about the weather. To the one seeking to probe the depths of space beyond this planet the condition of that aqueous envelope that surrounds us is a matter of the first importance. During the session just passed we have experienced a great deal of wet and cloudy weather, with the result that very few first-class nights were obtained, and not much work has been accomplished in consequence. Perfectly clear skies and air steady was experienced on only nine nights. Thirty-nine gave us a clear sky, but air somewhat un-steady, classed as second-class nights, when medium results only can be obtained, and one hundred and seven when the clouds were not sufficiently dense to stop observations and air medium. This gives us 155 nights in the year dur page 4 ing which work of some kind was accomplished, mostly that devoted to showing the various celestial bodies to your members and visitors. The attendance of members and visitors during' the session totalled 429. This does not reach the total of last year, which was made up by a special week devoted to the public, when over 250 visited the observatory.

The Sun was particularly active during the early part of the session, last October, also on several other occasions, notably during March and July, when many observations of sun spots and faculae were made. The fine spectroscope generously subscribed for by Messrs Sarjeant, Duncan, and Tawse has not yet come to hand. When in possession of this instrument we hope to be able to make observations of value on the solar prominences and the spectra of other celestial bodies generally.

On December 19th of last year a cable from Mr Barrachi, of Melbourne Observatory, was passed on by courtesy of Mr John Grigg, of the Thames Observatory This referred to Comet B1905, which was "picked up" on the same evening by sweeping over the region indicated, and followed for sixteen evenings, its positions by circle readings recorded, but owing to considerable faintnes and the obtrusive light from gas lamps in the vicinity, no micrometrical measures were obtained.

Mercury has been observed on several occasions, but so far none of those marking's reported by certain European astronomers have been seen.

Venus for some time has been an object of considerable attraction its extreme brilliance exciting curiosity in many to know what it may be like in the telescope. Their first acquaintance with its phases has lead to considerable interest being taken, which we hope will prove permanent and lead to new additions to the congregation. Venus is just now passing that fine red star Antares, the Alpha of the Scorpion, and the contrast in the brilliant white of the planet with the deep red of the star is worth noting. A most interesting phenomenon in connection with Venus and this constellation is due in December next, on the 10th of the month. At that time Venus will occult the star Beta. An occultation of a bright star by a planet is by no means a

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common phenomenon, and all who have access to telescopes should look for it, it is rather unfortunate that it happens with us after sunrise, but as Venus is such a brilliant object at that time the observer will have no difficulty in getting on to the location. We are indebted to Dr Downing, our esteemed fellow member of the British Astronomical Association, for having drawn our attention to this interesting phenomenon.

I have nothing to report of Mars for the past session, but the present one promises to give us a treat in the coming opposition of this planet. Its southern declination at the most favourable position will be 20deg, south. This will give us an altitude on the meridian of about 70deg. above the horizon; to the observer in Great Britain at the same time it will be less than 20 deg. The great advantage to southern observers is obvious, for, as most of you know, every degree of elevation signifies so much less of that medium, fatal to all first-class telescopic work, the atmosphere. We must endeavour, therefore, to show results in keeping with our advantages. At this favourable opposition we expect the photographic methods applied at the Flagstaff Observatory, Arizona, U. S. A., two years ago, will be prosecuted with renewed energy, as a check on all visual observations.

Owing to his northern declination Jupiter has not been seen to the best advantage since the erection of our Observatory. We shall have to wait another year or two before his orbital journey brings him into greater elevation at this station. It was remarked last opposition that his northern equatorial belt had almost entirely vanished. This has reformed again, and is very intense, so that members may expect to have in-teresting views of this planet in the next few months.

Saturn remains one of the most fascinating of objects to members and visitors to the Observatory. Mis ring system, now rapidly closing, still presents a most attractive spectacle, while his fainter satellites arc now seen to greater advantage.

The Moon, as usual, fills the public eye, and in the estimation of the majority of our visitors easily takes first place. Some few exceptionally good nights have been spent with our satellite, when much delicate detail has been noted. This was particularly so on December 2nd, when the page 18 region of Frascatorius, near the terminator, was seen to be pitted with innumerable minute craterlets, and the rill east and west across the floor was seen to show considerable detail. At the same time Messier A was observed to have a secondary rampart east of the main enclosure, and a small mound on the floor to the cast of the centre, not seen at any previous observation.

The total eclipse of the 4th and 5th of August was well seen at this station, and several points of interest noted. The shadow came on of a bluish black hue until it reached Copernicus, when it began to assume the usual bright coppery tinge. This increased until total immersion, when it was most marked, the eclipse being an exceedingly bright one. It was noticed that the shadow darkened slightly as the moon reached the centre of the shadow cone, but undoubtedly it was the brightest moon when fairly within he shadow that I have yet seen. The surface was as bright as that portion showing strong earth-shine at first quarter, and all the smaller objects could be easily picked up in the telescope, yet in the earlier stage, when the shadow had advanced as far as Tycho, it was impossible to distinguish Aristarchus. A short report of this eclipse was sent to the British Astronomical Association, it not being visible in Great Britain. A report was received from the Rev. Oscar Blundell, of Central Otago, where fine weather conditions favoured several observers.

Double star observations have been carried on when weather permitted, and several close pairs have been added to our list. Many of those previously found have been re-observed and their positions checked by the micrometer, but, owing to the illumination of same being without means of reduction, no measures of distance for faint pairs have been made.

By arrangement with Mr H. M. Payne, headmaster of Queen's Park School, the children will be allowed to visit the Observatory at favourable times during the early hours of the evening. They come in charge of the master at about 7.30 and leave about 9 p.m. The telescope is directed upon a number of objectas in turn and an effort is made, as they take their turns at the eyepiece, to convey clear elementary ideas of the different bodies viewed, their constitution, movements, phases, etc., etc. In this way it is hoped to encourage an interest in and a love of astronomy page 19 that will grow with their years.

A lecture was delivered by Sir Robert Stout the Chief Justice, on September 14th in St. Paul's Hall. His Honor took for his theme an evening spent at our Observatory. It is needless to say that the lecture proved a most interesting and instructive one, and I am filad that your committee have authorised me to have it printed, with the particulars of our annual meeting. I am sure that many of you who were unable to be present at the lecture will enjoy a perusal of this paper, which is worthy of a very careful reading.

It having been found that visitors to the town, and some of our residents having friends staying with them for a day or so often apply for entry to the Observatory at the beginning of the week, it has been decided to make the open evenings on Tuesdays and Fridays, instead of on Thursdays and Fridays as heretofore. We trust in this way to meet the convenience of members and visitors generally.

Presents have been received from the following Observatories and societies. I am sure you will accord the donors of these valuable gifts a hearty vote of thanks. Received from P. Baracchi, Esq., F.R.A.S., Melbourne Observatory, first catalogue of 1227 stars, and catalogue of 1211 stars. Sir David Gill, F.R.S., Royal Observatory, Cape of Good Hope, catalogue of 1713 stars and catalogue of 3007 stars. The Director. Lick Observatory, California, U.S.A., Lick Observatory Bulletin Nos. 83—99. (When the news of the great Frisco earthquake came to hand our thoughts instantly centred on the Lick Observatory, and fears for its safety were unavoidable. In answer to enquiries the Director, W. W. Campbell, Esq., F.R.A.S., assured me that they had come out of the ordeal uninjured. This is the more remarkable as we learn that the damage at San Jose, only 13 miles directly west of the Observatory, was most severe, as was also the region to the east of the Observatory site. It would almost appear as if the altitude of the Observatory, over 4000 feet, had something to do with it, but this must remain problematical for the present. The force of this notable earth movement may be gathered from the fact that at a point where a road crossed the line of fissure at right angles it was found to have an offset of seventeen feet after the earthquake, while a large tree, standing ex- page 20 actly on the east edge of the fissure, is now iwenty-four feet south of its former position, as indicated by the small roots it left behind it, as the side of the fissure on which it stood was carried twenty-four feet to the south by the shearinii motion of the strata along' the great fault line.) Sydney Observatory, latitude of the Sydney Observatory, C. J. Merfield, Esq., F.R.A.S. Provisional Determination of Astronomical Refraction from Observations made with the meridian circle instrument of the Sydney Observatory, by the same author. (Correspondence with this Observatory has been found most helpful; this applies most distinctly, also, to Mr John (Grigg, F.R.A.S., of Thames)'. Leeds Astronomical Society, Nos. 12 and 13, Journal and Transactions for years 1904-5. These are exceedingly interesting numbers, and are certainly a credit to the society, which devotes practically all its income to its production, several members paying-double subscription to make it possible. It may not be out of place to mention here that this society numbers rather fewer subscribers than our own, but it has within its ranks several exceedingly able men, whose contributions to theoretical practical, and especially observational astronomy are well known. I have also received from the Smithsonian Institution, Washington, I'.S.A., as this work is being-printed. Nos. 1438 and 1459, being parts of Smithsonian contributions to Knowledge, Vol. XXXIV. The secretaries of the Royal Astronomical Society have also kindly sent me the "monthly notices," for all of which I beg to tender my best thanks.

As in former years the local Press has kindly published notices of various astronomical phenomena, reports of our meetings, etc., for which we owe them our sincere thanks. I have to thank your worthy president and the gentlemen of the committee, and particularly Mr Thomas Allison, for assisting-in the work of the Society at the Observatory, and conclude with the hope that in the coming-year our members will make good use of their fine instrument, at least on all those occasions when that unstable clement which stands between us and the stars is favourable to our efforts, to sec, beyond the things of this world, those that shine afar off in space.