Abstract
THE MELBOURNE OISSERVATORY.—On September 2 last Mr. Ellery, the Government Astronomer, made his annual report to the Board of Visitors to the Observatory. This report shows that with his staff a great amount of work was got through, the following being a brief summary:—With the meridian circle 3590 observations for Right Ascensions, and 2233 for N. P. D. were made, these numbers including the observations for the places of the guide stars used in the astrographic operations. The great telescope, owing to the demands on the staff for the astrographic work, has not been much in use, the routine work having been dropped altogether. It is pleasing to hear that a good start and considerable progress has been made in the part allotted to them in the photographic chart and catalogue of the heavens. Up to June 30, 278 plates had been exposed, excluding a great number obtained for purposes of testing adjustments, &c., although Mr. Ellery remarks that the weather since May was anything but inviting for such work. With the photoheliograph 201 sun pictures were obtained. The observations and records relating to terrestrial magnetism, meteorology, and intercolonial weather service, and time distribution have been continued as usual with satisfactory results. In the seventh paragraph of the report Mr. Ellery informs us of the necessity that has arisen for the reduction of expenditure. Mr. White, the chief assistant, and Mr. Moerlin, the second assistant, were both called upon to retire on September 30, having attained the age of sixty years, both a considerable loss to the observatory, having served there thirty-one and thirty years respectively, and Mr. Ellery found it necessary to close the observatory workshop, and dispense with the mechanic. In a re-organisation of the duties it will be necessary, he says, to put in abeyance observations with the great reflector, reduce meteorological work, including some photographic registration, stop ordinary extra-meridian observation, except the most important, reduce publications and issue of weather charts, and generally to limit operations to the most important and urgent kind. Such a reduction as this after so many years of smooth working and the loss of two such experienced and efficient officers must fall heavily on Mr. Ellery's shoulders, but we are glad to hear that the new scheme is now in working order. We hope to hear also that Mr. Wallace's services have been retained for the astrographic chart, as Mr. Ellery says in a supplementary report that without him this undertaking will have to be dropped.
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 47, 498 (1893). https://doi.org/10.1038/047498a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/047498a0