ASSOCIATED SCIENTIFIC INSTITUTIONS 431

WASHBURN OBSERVATORY

JOEL STEBBINS, DIRECTOR, PROFESSOR OF ASTRONOMY

The Washburn Observatory was established in the year 1878 through
the munificence of the late Governor Cadwallader C. Washburn. Although
its obligations and opportunities as a branch of a teaching university have
not been ignored, the energies of its staff from the beginning have been
directed mainly to astronomical research. Among the lines of research cul-
tivated are the measurement of the positions and motions of the heavenly
bodies, the discovery and measurement of double stars, with investigations
of their orbits, the study of changes of latitude and the amount and char-
acter of the atmospheric refraction, the determination of the amount of the
aberration of light, problems of stellar-color, proper motions of faint stars,
a systematic investigation of the parallaxes of all accessible stars which
have large proper motions, and the photo-electric photometry of variable
stars.

The principal instrument of the observatory is a refracting telescope of
15.6 inches aperture, constructed by Alvan Clark & Sons, and provided with
a micrometer, a spectroscope, and a photo-electric photometer. The meri-
dian circle by A. Repsold & Sons has a Clark objective with an aperture of
five inches. There are also a sidereal clock by Hohwii, two mean clocks by
Howard, and chronographs by Fauth and Gaertner. The clocks are com-
pared daily with the radio time signals from Washington.

In the student observatory are a ten-inch refractor with a modern
mounting, and a three-inch transit instrument of the broken-telescope type
by Bamberg. These instruments, while primarily intended for instruction,
are well adapted to and are employed for certain classes of original work.
The observatory also possesses a considerable number of subsidiary instru-
ments, such as portable telescopes, photometers, chronometers, sextants,
engineers’ transits, an altazimuth, a universal instrument, a personal equa-
tion machine, calculating machines, photographic and meteorological appa-
ratus, and nautical charts and instruments.

The Woodman Astronomical Library established in connection with the
observatory, and supported from the income of a fund given by the late
Cyrus Woodman, possesses a large and valuable collection of works upon
astronomy and kindred subjects.

The results of important investigations conducted at the Washburn
Observatory are published by the state, and fifteen volumes, representing
the more important work done, have been issued.

Students of sufficient technical attainment are admitted to the observa-
tory and take part in the investigations in progress. Meritorious original
work of such students may be included in the publications of the observa-
tory. For the courses of instruction in astronomy see page 122.

WISCONSIN GEOLOGICAL AND NATURAL
HISTORY SURVEY

E. F. BEAN, DIRECTOR OF SURVEY AND STATE GEOLOGIST

This Survey has always been closely associated with the University,
alike in its inception and operation. Its origin dates from a motion offered
by Dr. C. R. Van Hise to the Wisconsin Academy of Sciences in 1893, call-
ing for the appointment of a committee to secure legislation establishing
such a survey. The committee, with Dr. Van Hise as chairman, took up the
task and finally secured the establishment of the Survey by the legislature

 

 

 

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