Abstract
AN interesting paper by Robert G. Aitken appearing in Sky and Telescope of September recalls some interesting events of nearly half a century ago. From the time of the discovery of the companion to Sirius in 1862 by Alvan G. Clark, until 1892, the tiny companion was followed by double-star observers as it gradually approached its primary, until it was lost in the rays of Sirius in 1892. The arc observed over the thirty years was not sufficiently long to permit the computation of a good orbit, and it was necessary to assume the identity of Clark's companion with the one predicted by Bessel in 1840, and the consequent revolution period of fifty years. This assumption could only be proved to be correct when the companion reappeared in its predicted position. In 1896 Aitken was spending the summer vacation with Dr. Holden on Mt. Hamilton, and was offered the post of assistant astronomer, which he accepted. On October 23 in the same year he went to the 36-in. dome to see how Prof. J. M. Schaeberle was getting on with his search for the companion of Sirius, but found that he had gone home ; and, as he discovered next morning, had not only been seized with a violent headache, but had also broken a micrometer thread at the beginning of his night's work. Aitken used the opportunity to look at Sirius with the 36-in. telescope, and the tiny companion stood out clearly defined and steady. He recorded a few sets of measures and went home very happy at the thought that he, too, had seen the companion on the first night of its emergence from the rays of its primary. Only next day did he discover that he was the first to see the companion since Burnham lost it in the rays of Sirius in 1892, Schaeberle having abandoned his search on the previous night. It is very doubtful if many English astronomers know this interesting part of the story of the rediscovery of the companion of Sirius.
Article PDF
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Sirius and its Companion. Nature 150, 572 (1942). https://doi.org/10.1038/150572b0
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/150572b0