The American Association of Variable Star Observers ANNE YOUNG for Several Years Before the Amen- Huge Number, Mr

Pv,btiJzed monthly by the American Amateur Astronomical Association

Vol. 2 No. 3 March, 1936 Ten Cents The American Association of Variable Star Observers ANNE YOUNG For several years before the Amen- huge number, Mr. Armfield, well known can Association of Variable Star Ob- to the amateur group in Milwaukee, con- servers was formed, a few observers had tributed 2500. This rapid growth has College been very largely due to the untiring been cooperating with Harvard who has been secre- Observatory at the request of its Direc- efforts of Mr. Olcott, each tary since the beginning, but there are tor, Prof. E. C. Pickering, reporting others who deserve honorable mention month their observations of a selected for their part in it. In these days no list of variable stars for which the Har- charts astronomer working on variable star vard Observatory had furnished theories would fail to consult the reports and a carefully selected sequence of comparison stars. It had long been recog- of the AAVSO. number of variables was Since 1915 an annual meeting has been nized that the Col- so great that it would be quite impossible held every October at the Harvard for the astronomers in research observa- lege Observatory, where the generous tories to follow their light changes, and hospitality of the director has always that only as we do have a fairly complete added greatly to the pleasure of meeting record of the changes can we hope to with fellow members. A spring meeting find a satisfactory explanation of their is also held, often at some institution cause. More than once had it been sug- with which one of our members is con- gested, especially by Professor Pickering, nected. These gatherings have always that there were in this country many am- by ateurs interested in astronomy who might and are marked as red letter days on the be willing to use their telescopes for the calendars of those who have been able systematic observing of these stars if to attend. they realized what an important contri- With the cooperation of the Harvard bution to astronomy they could make in and Leander McCormick Observatories, this way. In 1911 William Tyler Olcott, the committee on charts has prepared well known author of several popular charts with revised sequences of com- works on astronomy and an enthusiastic parison stars for several hundred long- observer, of variable stars, published in period variables, and these sequences are the April number of Popular Astronomy now quite generally used by observers an article entitled "Variable Star Work all over the world. The association owns for the Amateur", in which he explained a library of more than 1000 titles kept the methods of observation, told of the at Harvard but loaned to members upon great value of such observations, and request. The nucleus of this ccFectioì offered to answer questions and to assist consists of books originally owned by Dr. in every possible way any one willing to Brashear, the famous instrument maker undertake the work. By the end of that of Pittsburgh, and bequeathed by hi. o year an association of 15 members had to Charles i. McAteer, railway engineer been formed, a name had been chosen, and a devoted variable star observer, and reports were being published each who in turn gave them to the AAVSO month in Popular Astronomy. Professor that they might be more widely used. Pickering encouraged the group in every An excellent collection of more than possible way and th.e editors of Popular 1000 lantern slides for the most part Astronomy made it possible to have the contributed by leading observatories and monthly reports printed where they by m.embers of this association, may be would be available to every one interes- drawn upon by members and their ted in variable stars. friends for popular lectures, and much organization has been done in the way of interesting When in 1917 a formal excel- was effected, there were 81 charter mem- the public in astronomy. Several bers, several of them residing in foreign lent telescopes have been acquired, chief- lands. The number of observations re- ly by gifts, which are loaned to observers ported for the preceding month was 2600. who do not have good instruments of In 1935 the total membership was not their own and who have proved their far from 400, and 54,000 observations ability to make observations of value. were reported for the year. Of this (continued on page 3) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor March. 1936 Amateur Astronomy 29 Photographic Notes LYNN MATTHIAS METHoD OF COMPARISON OF PATROL PLATES A method, mentioned in Dr. King's taken it is a simple matter to superim- book "Celestial Photography", which pose them so that the images are coinci- may be used for the comparison of fin- dent. ished patrol plates, is to simply super- The easiest way to make the compari- pose the plate which has just been taken Sons is to make up a box with an open with perhaps the original plate taken of top, or preferably an inclined open front, the same area. The plates should be with the opening somewhat larger than oriented so that corresponding stars on the plates to be accommodated. A sheet both plates are in coincidence. The plates of ground or flashed opal glass is fitted are then shifted slightly with respect to in the opening, and a 25 watt lamp is, each other so that each image appears mounted inside the box to illuminate the double. The plates are then gone over glass. A further aid is a piece of good with a magnifier, the object being to quality paper, or better, a piece of glass, find an image that is single instead of ruled off in squares. This is fastened to the glass on the viewing box and the I, double, or to find a large difference in the appearance of a pair of images plates are placed on it. Then one square of images may be gone over at a time It is necessary that all plates taken by prevented. one observer of a particular area be ad confusion thereby This is auto- Members who are interested in astro- centered on the same star photographic work will welcome the op- matically taken care of if the same Dr. Shapley to guide star is always used when photo- portunity provided by graphing the area. (provided the camera obtain an astrophotographic outfit at a with comparatively reasonable cost. This outfit is kept mounted in the same position includes a 3-inch camera arranged to use respect to the guiding telescope) . It is cen- 8x10 plates, guiding telescope complete necessary that the plates always be with eyepiece, and mounting complete tered the same so that the aberrations with clamps, slow motions and electric of the lens do not result in the images drive. Those interested should communi- of corresponding stars on the two plates cate directly with Dr. Shapley at the being compared being of different size or Harvard College Observatory, Cambridge shape, or even being in a different rela- Mass., for complete details. tive position if the lens has appreciable 2121 E. Capitol Drive, distortion. If the plates are properly Milwaukee, Wie. Nova Program Notes L. E. ARMFIELD In the nova program notes for January, attention was called to D. W. Rose- brugh's practice of extending the survey of his nova field to the seventh magnitude through the use of low power binoculars. A communication recently received from him contains the following offer: "If any of the nova observers wishes to observe to the seventh magnitude, as I have started, and will send nie a pencil, ink, or print chart of the stars down to the sixth magnitude in the area they are already observing, together with a stamped, self addressed return envelope, I will gladly add the seventh magnitude stars without charge and return the chart." Due to the number of seventh magnitude stars generally found in any given area, Mr. Rosebrugh has also found that it does not seem feasible to observe fainter stars visually. Having the now famous prediction of the end of the depression still sharply in in mind, we pray earnestly that spring is not "just around the corner." We gratefully acknowledge the following observations r.eceived for the month of January. Area Magnitude of Faintest Star Visible Total Observer Group -- G 5 1 Njghts

Diedrich Milwaukee 7 -- 1 9 4 14 ** Doolittle So. Norwalk 3 - 3 Gale Iowa 49 -- -- 3 -- -- 3 Loepfe Milwaukee 10 -- -- 2 1 1 4 Rosebrugh New York 57 7 3 2 1 13 *** Seely New York 3 4 -- 7 ** Three areas for which numbers have not been assigned to date. Two areas for which numbers have not been assigned to date. 2046 S. 59th St., Milwaukee, Wie. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 30 Amateur Astronomy March, 1936 Olivier-Hoffmeister Program SUMMARY OF OBSERVATIONS FOR 1935 Wisconsin-Northern Illinois Region L. E. ARMFIELD

Richard Abrahams very deservedly achieves first place in the number of zum- utes observed during 1935, having accumulated the fine total of 4141 minutes. Mike Keuziah is second with 3462, Edward Legel, was third, with 1983, is followed by Ed Martz, Jr., in fourth place. Joseph E. Boehm was nosed out of fifth place b George Diederich by only six miautes. The other members listed in the summary also deserve much credit for their worthy contributions to the program, and it is hoped sincerely that the good work may be continued during 1936. Observer Address Minutes Meteors R. Abrahams, 5046 N. 39th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 4141 316 Wm. Albrecht, 6645 W. Burleigh St., Milwaukee, Wis. 490 42 Donald Bartelt, Joliet, IlL 60 28 \Vm. R. Binney, 315 N. Franklin St., Madison, Wis. 250 42 A. F. Boyd, Pewaukee, Wis. 60 0 Jos. E. Boehm, 3511 N. Seminary Ave., Chicago, Ill. 1108 178 Kujawa Clemens, 2653 S. 15th Place, Milwaukee, Wis. 60 1 Frank Daniek, Joliet, Ill. 70 20 Geo. Diedrich, 3331 W National Ave, Milwaukee, Wis. 1060 91 Wm. Du Vail, West Allis, Wis. 65 5 J. M. English, 2317 Oakridge Ave., Madison, Wis. 157 25 Mary Farogher and Lillian Hawkins, Madison, Wis. 120 7 M. M. Feinsilber, Three Lakes, Wis. 183 67 Joseph Gabris, West Allis, Wis. 631 58 Gene Gale, 831 39th St., Des Moines, Iowa 123 24 Kenneth Gailogly, Camp Minnikani, Hubertus, Wis. 120 18 Edward Halbach, 2346 N. 47th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 308 44 Mike Keuziak, 825 S. 89th St., West Milwaukee, Wis. 3147 431 Joseph Ketarkus, Racine, Wis. 856 64 George Knott, 726 E. Linus St., Milwaukee, Wis. 645 45 Max Konowalik, West Allis, Wis. 60 88 John Luczka, 1977 S. 69th St., West Allis, Wis. 870 109 Edward Legel, 6026 W. Orchard St., West Allis, Wis. 1983 178 J. F. Loepfe, 2054 5. 58th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 762 73 Ed. Martz, Jr., 726 N. Elmwood Ave, Oak Park, Ill 1440 184 Ed. Mittendorf, Chicago, Ill. 467 62 Darrell Moore, 1502 5. 35th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 60 5 Robert Price, Joliet, III. 60 9 Marjorie Preucil, Joliet, Ill. 120 15 Kenneth Parske, 2054 5. 59th st., Milwaukee, Wis. 249 22 Jack Schmid, 1947 N. 36th st., Milwaukee, Wis. 981 73 Wm. Schofield, Jouet, Ill. 240 52 Luby Sidofi', 4529 W. National Ave., West Milwaukee, Wie. 852 93 Leon Sikorski, 2703 S. 15th Place, Milwaukee, Wis. 91 1 Steve Vihnicka, Joliet, Ill. 130 25 Wm. C. Woodley, Joliet, Ill. 60 4 Observers, 36 22079 2443 SHOWER METEORS George Diedrich, 3331 W. National Ave., Milwaukee, Wis. 54 36 Per Wm. Elliot, Camp Minnekani, Hubertus, Wis. 125 65 Per J. M. English, 2317 Oakridge Ave., Madison, Wis. 129 19 Ori Kenneth Gallogly, Camp Minnekani, Hubertus, Wis. 125 57 Per Mike Keuziak, 825 S. 39th St., West Milwaukee, Wis. 315 75 Per 121 36 Aqr George Knott, 726 E. Linus St. ,Milwaukee, Wis. 125 26 Per John Luczka, 1977 S. 69th St., West Allis, Wis. 91 25 Per Darrell Moore, 1502 5. 35th St., Milwaukee, Wis. 180 36 Per Observers, 8 1265 375 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 31 March, 1936 Amateur Astronomy The Field of Y Canum Venaticorum HANS D. GAEBLER number of Die may be concluded is that there was a In the August 1929 most, and Himmeiswelt, four available star fields possible fluctuation of O'2 at are suggested by Friedrich Lause as more observations are needed before for the amateur much will be known definitely. Dr. Kan- being especially fruitful also to observe. They are V Canum Venati- da, who observed V CVn since 1923, Virginis, and used the comparison star HD 116475 corum, TW Pegasi, RW asked SW Virginis. A number of observations when V was at maximum. When reported about its constancy he admitted that of V CVn (131546) have been about in the AAVSO reports in Popular As- there seemed to be a fluctuation of tronomy although there is as yet no asso- o.m5. ciation chart for this field. It is a va- It would be an interesting star, there- reliable belonging to spectral type M5e fore, for some of our members to follow with a period of about 192 days and and at the same time make observations fluctuates from magnitude 6.8 to 7.9 of V CVn. Sweeping down from the although this star, a Mira type variable, end star of the handle of the big dipper is reported by others as having a period brings one to the field, 30' E 3° S from of 186.1 days and fluctuating from mag- eta Ursa Majoris. Use Beyer-Graff nitude 6.4 to 8.4 (Lause). Special at- atlas for want of a Harvard blue print tention is called to the irregularities of chart, find V, then try to locate the com- its maxima and to its secondary minima. parison star HD 116475 about 6.m9, a During the series of observations of this star forming the western end of a small star suspicion fell upon one of the com- triangle of stars 2°N of V CVn. If Ha- parison stars as not being constant. This gen's charts and the Draper catalogue comparison star is No. H. D. 116475 are available there will be no mistake. (Henry Draper Catalogue), and its mag- Who will be the first to notice a fluctu- nitude was determined photometrically to ation of this little star? be 6.92. Its spectrum is Mb and Dr Van Biesbroeck of the Yerkes Observa- Réport of Observations. tory suggested that it might be worth It has just been called to our attention while to keep a record of this star as that no recognition was made of several compared with other comparison stars newcomers to the list of our observers, in the field as well as comparing it to and we sincerely beg pardon for this V CVn. oversight. Upon going over the reports The two chief observers of V CVn we notice that we failed to mention the Heidelberg) addition of the following observers: had been Dr. Lause (then at Keuziah, Knott, Katz, Sidoff, and Stosick, and Dr. Kanda of Tokyo. These gentle- in August last; Gallogly, Guenther, and men were both consulted as to whether Schmid in September; and Luczka in the the comparison star HD December issue of the bulletin. While they had used send in of V CVn, two of these observers failed to 116475 in their observations their records, and while only one ob- and if so, whether they had noticed any server has sent in his report at this variation in it. In the Nishni Novgorod writing, some better way of controlling April 1929 bulletin Lause published the this branch of our endeavor would be results of his observations of V CVn, welcome. Let's have your suggestions. as early as mentioning the fact that Observations for January; S. J. Fair- 1914.-15 he noticed that this star's light curve was quite different from what it banks 6, E. A. Halbach 13, J. F. Loepfe was in 1928-29. Accordingly he was 2, George Knott 2, George Diedrich 10, asked to consult his observations to see L. Armfield 52, Richard Hamilton 135, comparison star whether he had used the Doolittle 105. HD 116475, and if so, whether any vari- Lewis ation was noticed by him. He submitted 404 8th Street. his complete records, and the most that Watertown. Wis.

Observatory Section (continued from page 27) sky opening. Two good examples of this amateur, at some future time we will class are those of Woods and Watson in develop the dome-type observatory in Baltimore and George Croston in Taco- greater detail if this information seems ma, whose observatory is motor operated. to be in demand amongst our readers. Since the straight line observatory Valley View Observatory, offers little difficulty to the average Pittsburg, Pa. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 32 Amateur Astronomy March, 1936 Loan Bureau The AAVSO WM. CALLUM (continued from pcsge 25) As secretary of such a club as ours For several years Harvard College we come in contact with many people Observatory has prepared and sent to who are interested in astronomy. Some active members a bi-monthly bulletin of them display great interest and enthu- with information regarding variables. siasm and would take part in an ob- Complete reports of observations made serving program if they had the use of have been published in Popular Astrono- an instrument. They are mostly young my. ' Beginning with 1936 a different men who are attending high school or form of report is to be used. In 1924 college and who have not the time or the first number of "Variable money to make an instrument of Comments" their appeared ; this is a four-page quarterly own. One never knows when he may containing reports of meetings, occa- kindle the spark of genius in some of sional scientific articles and personal these young men and thereby spread items intended to promote the acquain- the knowledge of the science which has tances of members. ever been in th.e forefront of intellectual development. It is beyond question that Many astronomers, members, and oth- the knowledge of astronomy and the er friends have been most generous in kindred sciences broadens the thinking their help, but most of all the associa- and raises the ethics of those who have tion is indebted to Prof. E. C. Pickering, come under its influence. the late director of the Harvard Observa- tory, and to Professor Shapley, its pres- Mr. Armfield has asked us to estab- ent director. An attempt to raise an lish a Loan Bureau for the AAAA, so endowment fund of $100,000 as a mem- we request those who have telescopes, orial to Professor Pickering proved to mountings or mirrors which are not be beyond the resources of the AAVSO, being used and which they are willing but with the aid of the Harvard Observaj- to loan, to communicate with us. Un- finished tory such a fund has been set aside for mirrors and equipment will be variable star astronomy, and Prof. Leon welcomed and put in working condition. is Campbell of the Harvard Observatory It perhaps asking a great deal to re- staff officially assumed the duties of Re- quest the owner of optical equipment to loan corder in 1931. Professor Campbell had it to some one else but he can be been for years untiring in his efforts to assured that it will be placed in good promote the best interest of the associa- hands and that it will be used to advantage. tion. 1819 w. 78th St.. Chicago, Ill. The last annual report is an encourag- ing one, but the field is almost limitless and is Silvering Method there much more that needs to be done. Dr. Shapley has consented to (continued from page 26) serve as President of the Association for or two precautions. The rouge should this year and new recruits are needed be washed by flotation to remove grit and to help the finest carry out the ambitious program part dried on a glass in a dust that he is planning for us. We hope free place. The chamois should be the that many members of the AAAA will softest part of a new piece that has want a share in this important work never been wet. This is wrapped over a and will use their telescopes in making tight wad of dry cotton and impreg- these fascinating and worthwhile obser- nated with the rouge by rubbing it on the glass vations. Any one wishing further in- on which the rouge was dried. formation regarding variable star work The final precaution is to touch the mirror may obtain it by writing to Prof. Leon as lightly as possible the first time Campbell, recorder of the AAVSO at over. The second time a little morç pres- Harvard Observatory, sure can be used, Cambridge, Mass. and after that it is Mount possible to bear down quite heavily to Holyoke College, complete the burnishing. South nadley, Mass. The question of lacquering the finished surface is one of personal preference. Excellent 12-Inch Parabolic Speculum It is the choice between more frequent f Made by Frank Preucil of Joliet, Illinois. silvering or a Exquisite definition and light gathering slightly less brilliant sur- power for planetary and star observation. face at the beginning. If it is to be 1.5 inch diameter prism of good figure lacquered a colorless lacquer is diluted included for diagonal. Total with eight parts of amyl acetate, poured Sale Price only $28.00 i over the mirror, drained off with the Apply before March 18th; am leaving ? mirror on U.S.A. edge, and allowed to dry. & I ED MARTZ JR. 811 W, Cedar Street, ¿ 726 N. Rlmwood Ave., Oak Park, Ill, Wauwatosa, Wisconsin. r!i PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor March. 1936 Amateur Astronomy 33 The official monthly publication of American Amateur Astronomical Association We heartily welcome the well organized and active Louisville Astronomical - Publication Headquarters The Louis- 59th St., Milwaukee, Wis. Society to the Association. 2046 5. ville Star Notes, appearing in the pages societies, con- Affiliated Societies devoted to the affiliated Association of Pittsburgh. tain a very interesting report of their Amateur Astronomers many activities. Pennsylvania. A great pleasure in Amateur Astronomers Association of Rutherford, The A A A takes New Jersey. cordially we1coming the following new Amateur Telescope Makers of New York, N. Y. memberships received during February. Astronomers Guild of Jamestown. New York. which are listed below. De- Chicago Amateur Astronomical Association. Chi- New memberships received during cago, Ill. cember and January will appear in the Louisville Astronomical Society, Louisville, Ky. April issue of this magazine. Madison Astronomical Society. Madison, Wis. We deeply regret the withdrawal of Milwaukee Astronomical Society, Milwaukee, Wie. the splendid Missouri-Southern Illinois Norwalk Astronomical Society. Norwalk. Conn. observers and their publication, the As- tronomical Discourse, from the associa- Editorial Staff tion. We highly respect their opinion in Miss Elizabeth Wight, Editor that the Astronomical Discourse can more Mrs. A, K. Fisher Miss Carolyn Nickels adequately serve the individual members H. A. Halbach of their region as space in Amateur Advisory Editors Astronomy is more costly than mimeo- rof. Leon Campbell - Variable Stars. graphing and is necessarily limited by Prof. Charles P. Olivier - Meteors. the financial resources of any affiliated Prof. George Van Bieshroeck - Asteroids, comets. and double stars. society. The association also greatly ap- preciates the large part Mr. Simpson Ten cents per copy, $1.00 per year. and his organization played in the origi- Membership in A A A A, $1.00 per year nal formatioin of the AAAA. The M- including subscription. SlO has the association's hearty good Send all communications to the above address. wishes for continued success in their many endeavors. Memberships Received During February Miss Louise E. Bailhaussen i Gilinore Court Scardale, N. Y. George R. Barnum 17 Morgan Avenue Norwalk, Conn. R. N. Buckstaff 678 Algoma Blvd. Oshkosh, Wis. S. W. Casey 314 12th Street Eau Claire, Wis. Rev. Morgan Cilley Box 384 Romney, W. Va. Donnelly's 16 S. Main Stree So. Norwalk, Conn. Dick Emmons 2718 W. Tuscarawas St. Canton, Ohio Vincent Francis 25 Plymouth Street New Bedford, Mass. Amelia Giuntini 1906 Powell Street San Francisco, Calif. A. L. Harding Rowayton Beach Rowayton, Conn. Carl F. Hellweg 5246 Cote Brilliante Ave. St. Louis, Mo. Lancaster Hiett Hedgesville, W. Va. Norman C. Hurd 1069 Emerson Rd., Pk. Hills, Covington, Ky. P. E. Jacobs 15 Grunman Avenue Norwalk, Conn. Miss Willie D. Lepping 1415 Goddard Avenue Louisville, Ky. James A. Longman 2318 Sunnyside Avenue Chicago, Ill. Louisville Astronomical Soc. 1827 S. Third Street Louisville, Ky. Thomas L. McDonald 9 Colebrooke Terrace Glasgow, W. 2, Scotland Dr. Walter Lee Moore Box 163, R.F.D. 1 Coral Ridge, Ky. Dr. Edwin J. Nestler Belle Island So. Norwalk, Conn. Russell W. Porter 615 5. Mentor Street Pasedena, Calif. Norwalk Library Mott and BeIden Avenue Norwalk, Conn. Henry Allan Price Silvermine, Conn. Franklin W. Smith Glenolden, Pa. South Norwalk Library 10 Washington Street So. Norwalk Conn. Chrales Strull 2100 Murray Avenue Louisville, Iy. A. D. Sylvester Belle Island So. Norwalk, Conn. Rowayton Library Rowayton Avenue Rowayton, Conn. S. F. Thorpe 815 Perennial Drive Louisville, Ky. Paul S. Watson 425 E. Lake Street Baltimore, Md. Floyd Weed, Jr. Jefferson City, Tenn. J. L. Woods 4102 Westview Road Baltimore, Md. PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor March, 1936 Amateur Astronomy 38

Chicago News Milwaukee News Notes (continued from page 34) MILWAUKEE ASTRONOMICAL chine and has started another 8-inch SOCIETY mirror. When the weather moderates We take this opportunity to express we hope to have the usual attendance. our appreciation to a member of the It is planned to have George Warner MAS who has contributed funds for the give a series of short talks on optics at additional space required to publish Mr. these meetings and there will be many Hedengren's article which appears below. opportunities for discussion. George F. Kernan has charge of the The Massive Stars nova program for the Chicago area and T. R. IIEJJRNGREN will soon have charts tor distribution. A KaY TO THE STRUCTURE OF THE Because of the ice age in which we are UNIvansE? now living or rather existing, amateur On February 7, the daily papers con- activities have been curtailed and we tamed a news dispatch from the Harvard have not much to write about. We could Observatory to the effect that Dr. Ser- use the old standby and discuss the gei Gaposchkin, a member of the Obser- weather, but our remarks about that sub- vatory's staff, had succeeded in determin- ject would be entirely out of place in this ing the mass of the eclipsing binary 29 very respectable publication. Canis Majoris, which was found to be 1819 W. 78th St., '70 times the sun's mass, the components Chicago, Ill. "weighing" 40 and 30 times as much as the sun, respectively. Through a typo- graphical error 29 Canis Majoris was NAS Star News claimed to be the "heaviest star known", while the official statement merely (continued from page 30) termed it the most massive known eclip- At the time of writing this article sing binary. Not only are seme of the (February 15), four beautiful sun spots spectroscopic binaries probably consider- were observed on the sun. Two were ably more massive than 29 Canis Majoris, very close together. but the super-giant class O stars in cer- (January tain galactic clusters studied by Dr. Variable star observations Observatory are 15-February 15) total 246. Richard Trumpler of the Lick Hamilton, 135; Lewis Doolittle, 105. We very much more massive. wish to welcome an enthusiastic new- Up to very recently the quadruple star comer, the Rev. Clifford H. Vessey, who 27 Canis Majoris, studied by Dr. Otto is sending his initial report of six ob- Struve of the . Yerkes Observatory in servations to the AAVSO headquarters 1927, was supposed to be the most mas- at Harvard. sive star, the combined masses of its P. 0. Box 841. components being estimated as between So. Norwalk, Conn. 950 and 2,000 solar masses. However, in a recent letter to the writer, Dr. Struve calls attention to the fact that News in an article published in the Astrophy- 'l'ri-State sical Journal, Vol. 81, page 345, 1935, he (continued from paye 30) has given his new results concerning the to direct the photo- star 27 Canis Majoris. It appears from dition will endeavor the observations, covering eight years, graphic program. that the velocity curve does not precisely New members in the Tn-State area repeat itself, and that, accordingly, the include Franklin W. Smith, Glenolden, variation in velocity is due to a pheno- Pa., the Rev. Morgan Cilley, Romney, W. menon that has not heretofore been ob- Va., Paul S. Watson, Baltimore, Md., served and that cannot be explained on Dick Emmons, Canton, Ohio, and Lan- the basis of known physical phenomena. caster Hiett, Hedgesville, W. Va. It is fairly safe to say that the curve and Negotiations have begun with the new- does not represent orbital motion Philadelphia group. under that the mass function, on which the ori- iy organized ginal estimate of the exceptionally great the sponsorship of Dr. James Stokley, based, must have Director of Fels Planetarium, Philadel- mhss of this star was prospect of interesting n physical interpretation which is not phia, with the identical with the ordinary conception of that highly promising group in an ob- even serving program. Undoubtedly Dr. Stok- mass. While this makes the star will be heard from in a more interesting and peculiar, Dr. Struve ley's progress concludes, it definitely removes it from large way in 1936. list of the most massive stars. View Observatory, the Valley on 39) Pittsburgh, Pa. (continued page PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor March, 1936 Amateur Astronomy 39 The accompanying table gives sorne How may we explain this very inter- condensed data concerning the eight most esting peculiarity? Accepting the now massive star systems known to the pres- pretty well adopted theory that the stars ent Writer. were "born" from an enormous mass of It may be in order to point out here gas in rapid rotation, the writer would that the eight stars listed in the table attempt to explain the above mentioned are rare exceptions as far as weight is phenomenon in this way : these massive concerned. By far most of the many stars, due to their great mass, have been millions of stars (as far as known) have more able than ordinary stars to stay masses varying within comparatively in their original paths and maintain the narrow limits, between, say, five times the motion imparted to them by the rotating sun's mass for the heaviest, and about parent mass, without being to a great ex- one fifth of the sun's mass for the light- tent deflected, as apparently has hap- est. But when it comes to luminosity, pened to the multitude of ordinary and or radiation, it is quite another story. less massive stars. There the range of variation is enormous. The writer next undertook to project The faintest star known, Wolf 359, this "System of Massive Stars" upon the named after the German astronomer plane of the Milky Way, and again a Max Wolf who died only a few years most singular thing happened. With ref- ago, has a luminosity of only 1/50,000 erence to the first mentioned group of of that of the sun. while the most lumi- four massivè stars, which we tentatively nous stars, like S Doradus, and the call Group A, the positions of three stars brighter components of Pearce's and were fixed by knowing not only their Piaskett's stars, listed in the table, have direction in galactic longitude, but also luminosities, of approximately 300,000 their parallaxes or distances. Through times the sun's luminosity, thus 15,000,- these three fixed points a curve can be 000,000 times brighter than the faint laid, a sort of an elongated spiral, ema- Wolf 359. nating from the central nucleus. The But even these extremely luminous intersection of the radius vector from the super-giants appear to have been put sun in the direction of the galactic longi- in the shade by Dr. Gaposchkin's new tude for star number 6 (V Puppis) with discovery. The dispatch from Harvard the "spiral" gives the hypothetical loca- indicates that 29 Canis Majoris is about tion of the star. Its distance can be 20,000 light years distant from the earth. directly scaled off and found to be about This great distance, in combination with 15,300 light years. a fairly large visual magnitude of 4.9, If we measure the distance between and the reported high surface tempera- the stars on our spiral, we find them to ture ("one of the hottest stars", presum- be equally spaced, with one star missing, ably about 28,000° K as for class O stars) exactly hal-f way between Nos. 2 and 5. would give the components of 29 Canis For the second group, which we may Mai oris luminosities of from 3 to 5 mil- call B. consisting of stars Nos. 4, 7 and lion times that of the sun, or about 10 8, we unfortunately know the parallax to 15 times more brilliant than the (or distance) for only one star, No. 4 brightest stars known heretofore. So (AO Cassiopeiae). But if we draw a 29 Canis Majoris is truly a record break- similar spiral like the one. for group A er. and let it pass through the fixed point A study of the location in the sky of representing star No. 4, and find the the eight most massive stars reveals hypothetical positions for the other stars some highly significant facts. First, on the spiral, they again come out equi- they all cling closely, within a few de- distant, with two stars missing between grees, to the Galactic Equator, or ex- Nos. 4 and 'T. lo- pressed in plain English, they are of writing this article, 18 cated near the plane of the Milky Way. At the time Second, and still more significant, they stars in four different spirals have been form distinct groups, with the members investigated, and the equal spacing as of each group lying in exactly the same found in spirals A and B is invariably plane. Using the reference numbers ap- maintained, or divided in geometrical pearing in the accompanying table, if progression (the divisors always being the stars are plotted on a galactic chart, 2. 4, 8, . . . , never 3, 5, 7, . . . ). The it is found that the stars numbered 2, 3. writer has tried to find a reason for this 5 and 6 lie within 66° in galactic longi- apparent congruity, and to his mind it tude (in the constellations Monoceros, ca.n be easiest explained by assuming Gemini, Canis Major Puppis) and in it to represent a period at which the a straight line (which means one plane) stars are produced and started "in their inclined about 11/s° to the Galactic E- courses" by the parent nucleus. Another quator . Similarily, the stars numbered startling regularity manifests itself 4, 7 and 8 are found to lie in another when comparing the masses of the mas- plane of theMilkyWay. sive stars. - The "heaviest" ones, Nos. 1 PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor AMATEUR VAIRS:. Published monthly by the American Amateur Ast.ronosnicai Association

Vol, 2, No, 4 April, 1936 Ten Cents Oculars and Powers for Observing Variable Stars Rev. TILTON C. H. BOUTON Nearly 30 years ago the writer, in every requirement in work on variables. conversation with one of the famous Astronomers usually prefer the latter makers of telescopes, remarked that he for mere seeing; but after 24 years in had for some time been grinding lenses observing variables, the writer has come and constructing eyepieces which per- to prefer the Ramsden because of its formed very satisfactorily. slightly broader and flatter field. It will The reply was wholly unexpected and show any star which can be seen with a damper to the amateur's pride in his a negative eyepiece ,and unless the field work: "Any old thing will do for an is very bright the "ghost" is not seen. eyepiece; the all-important factor in a As to the powers to be used in observ- telescope is the objective". ing variable stars, no fixed rules can be That the objective or mirror which given. Eyes so vary that one observer demands the extreme of care and skill may see better with a given magnifica- in working is of far greater relative tion than another. Only a few general importance than the ocular can not be statements can be made. Where the ob- questioned; but one must not take seri- server can afford only one ocular, he will ously the statement that, "Any old thing probably obtain the best results with will do for an eyepiece." A poorly con- of about 10 structed ocular will greatly handicap the to the inch of his objective. This will most perfect objective. Especially is cover a fairly large field and will show this true in estimating variable stars. fainter stars than a lowel- power. To do In some lines of research a single lens the best work, he should have at least in the hands of a skilled observer may three eyepieces: one magnifying six to accomplish splendid results. It is said the inch hut never lower than five, an- that Sir William Herschel for much of other of medium magnificati:'n. and a- his work employed the single double- other of about 18 or 20 to the inch. The convex lens in preference to any com- last will show the variable when fainter bination of lenses then used; but the than can be seen by the lower powers. fact that, excepting in the center of the The lower the power, the brighter is the field, there is a marked distortion of the field, and the faintest stars cannot be star images, makes a single lens worth- seen. less for a member of the AAVSO. As far as the writer's experience goes, The late Prof. Edwin Brant Frost in a %-inch ocular will show a faint star "Let's Look at the Stars" (the finest better than any ocular much lower or book on astronomy for young beginners), higher. Such an eyepiece seems to give writing of objectives and eyepieces, says, the best proportion between the light "Both must now have two lenses, each and magnification. This has held true made of a different kind of glass." This in using several telescopes ranging from statement might lead the amateur to 21/s-inch to 7-inch. Some experienced think that he must have one or more observers use much higher powers when of those expensive achromatic or ortho- the stars are very faint but probably scopic forms of oculars in order to do the only advantage gained is when the good work, which is far from true. The faint variable is very close to other very advantage afforded by any of these f amt stars. The high powers give wider special designs over the standard Rams- separation and so aid in identifying the den and Huyghenian oculars is exceed- variable; but at the same time they give ingly slight, and of no practical value lessened light and the stars are dimmed. in work on variables. Undoubtedly the majority of observers Dr. Frost wrote from the standpoint will find, if they are able to make the of the professional astronomer, who can test, that an ocular of a 3/4-inch focus be satisfied only with the most perfect will show any star they can see with a possible equipment. Either the Ramsden higher power, and that certainly it will or the Huyghenian eyepieces will meet (continued on page 44) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 42 Amateur Astronomy April, 1936 The Venus Observations of the Mayas ED MARTZ, JR. Sometime in the period between 1000 The supreme god of the Mayas was B.C. and 1000 A.D. there was developed Kukulcan (or "Quetzalcoatl" of the on the peninsula of Yucatan in Mexico, northern Mexicans) who was intimately a civilization that in many respects ri- connected with the planet Venus. When valled that of the rest of the world. he died (for he was a deified human ru- Without any apparent contemporary 1er) he was said to have 'become' the contact with Europe or Asia the peoples planet Venus, after a disappearance of of the Maya built magnificent cities and eight days. The Maya universally looked temples ; developed an extensive written upon this period of eight days (which language of glyphs ; and conceived a was at the time of invisibility of Venus numerical system, a calendar, and astro- during inferior conjunction) as a time nomical observations and tables equal of ill omen and fatality. In addition to and superior to any elsewhere at that the condices noted above, several temples time. Their number system used simple apparently dedicated to Venus have been glyphs to represent digits, and they uti- found. Stelae (inscribed columns) erect- lized position to give value to the sym- ed periodically by the Mayas, often have bols. Thus, a bar was equal to the num- signs referring to the planet, associated

ber 5 ; a dot to the number 1 ; and a bar with date glyphs. One of these was and a dot meant 6. Similar combinations found over a glyph meaning "a new fire". were used up to 20, indicating that the When the accompanying date glyph was system was vigesimal rather than dcci- changed to the corresponding Christian mal, and that their base was 20 rather date by Dr. Spinden of Harvard, it was than 10 as is ours. Et was however, al- found to coincide with a helical rising most as convenient as Arabic numera- of Venus. (The time when the planet tion, and certainly vastly superior to the first becomes visible as a morning or clumsy Roman and similar types. The evening star four days after inferior Mayas also made a great mental step conjunction) . About 50 such inscrip- in conceiving of a symbol for zero, long tions are reported, on Spinden's correla- before it was recognized in Europe. tion, to yield coincidences with Venus Their calendar was an arbitrary one of phenomena. However, for some pur- days and months to record events, and poses, such as in reducing certain Maya did not coincide with the seasons. They solar eclipse records, the Maya-Chris. divided their 'year' into 13 'months' of tian correlations- of Goodman, Teeple, 28 days each. Similarly, the heavenly and Martinez are much more satisfactory Zodiac of ecliptical constellations had 13 in yielding correct coincident dates. parts instead of 12; and the star con- By continuous and prolonged (over a stellations as conceived by the Mayas period of centuries) recording of heu- were purely imaginative local associa- -cal morning and evening risings of Ve- tions. ilowever, chiefly because of their nus the Maya Astronomer-Priest discov- practice of counting "clasped time", ered that five Venusian synodical years rather than "present" as we do, their at 584 days are equal to eight vague so- time interval records are highly efficient, lar years at 365 days. Pages 46-50 of and their day count is quite similar in the Dresden Codex record this fact by many respects to the Julian Day Calen- date glyphs of the intervals of 2920 days dar used by variable star observers. (ie: 8x365 days) in the following man- Among the dicties worshiped by the ner: Each 2920 days is divided into five Mayas of Yucatan, the planet Venus parts of 584 days each, a page being held a principal place, and numerous re- given to each part. (It should be noted ligious ceremonies were devoted to it, that 2920 days is five synodical revolu- and observations made of its position tions of Venus). - Also: Each period of with respect to the Sun. There are two 584 days is sub-divided into four parts ancient Maya codices (or bòoks) which of 236, 90, 250 and 8 days. Now the syn- in addition to recording pictorially the odical observational revolution of Venus passage of Venus through the Zodiac in consists of four parts also, namely: a conjunction with the constellations, in- 236 day period of visibility between in- dicate that one of the methods of as- ferior and superior conjunction with the tronomical observations was naked eye Sun; a 90 day period of invisibility be- 'sighting' by two observers through tween superior and the next helical rising; a 250 day period of visibility af- notched or crossed sticks. Jungle covered finally, ruins of "Round Töwers" with astrono- ter superior conjunction; and, a period of 8 days of invisibility during mically oriented windows point to the inferior conjunction due to proximity to possibility that they were used to find the Sun (as seen from earth). The dates such as the equinoxes from the setting points of thd Sun. (continued on page 43)

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The Venus Observations Amateur Records hANS D. GAEBLER of the Mayas At this inventory time of the year (continv,ed on page 42) it might be well to look at our records. Little attentioin has been given to uni- discrepancy in the periods of invisibility formity of entering records of variable is due to difference in distance of the star observations among our members. members of the planet from earth (apparent size) , the Those of us who are AAVSO are guided by the circular of Venus phase (and hence brightness), instructions sent from Harvard. So and the relative motions of the two plan- much for our own record books. The ets increasing or reducing that period methods of reporting our observations at the different positions in their orbits. to Harvard are also uniform because of the standard form which is furnished to Associated with these tables are Venus all contributors. Let us look at the forni signs and other glyphs most of which of entry which our foreign amateurs use. are as yet undeciphered. Several author- The British use a column for recording ities have attempted to demonstrate, the comparison with each camparison from these tables, that the Maya recog- star. For example, 19-3, 22-1, means that the variable was 0."3 fainter than nized the true character of the solar the comparison with each comparison system and the orbits of at least earth refer to Hagen's atlas) , and that the and Venus. To the present writer, this comparison star number 22 was 0.ml possible since the deter- brighter than the variable. In the French appears hardly Ar- synodical records we find the same method of mination by observation of the gelander recorded, i.e. f 3 T i g mean- year is comparatively simple from the ing that the star f and g are comparison long series of observations the Mayas stars and T the variable. The Russians recorded, with no necessity for the dif- of Nishni Novgorod publish only a few columns, such as name of observer and ficult concept of heliocentricism arising number of observations and magnitude, in the still rather primitive minds of as do the Japanese, while the leading the observers. It is true that in using German amateur journals, Die Himmels- the slightly longer apparent synodical welt, Die Sterne, and Das Weltall, do year of 584 days (the true modern de- not publish records of observations at termination is 583.92 days) an error all. In fact many amateur observers creeps in which will shift the times of over there, so I am told, merely enter helical risings 5.2 days in 104 years. their estimates by the Argelander step Martinez endeavored in 1932 to show method and send them to the profession- that this could be corrected (as he be- als at the observatories to be worked up lieves it was by the Mayas) by use of there and magnitudes determined from supplementary tables derived from ap- these estimates. Our own records which parently extraneous dates at the bot- are published in Popular Astronomy give toms of pages 24, 46, and 47 of the Dres- only name, date and magnitude. If we den Codex. These h.e interprets to be become interested in any particular vari- records of transits of Venus across the able and perhaps in finding its light Sun's disk, because of the correspon- curve we shall have to consult all the dence between the date intervals and AAVSO records, but as already shown such transit intervals. However, the (see this bulletin for September 1935) data given seems too meagre and coinci- this is very incomplete and the addition dental to form a satisfactory proof of of foreign records will help to furnish his thesis that the Mayas corrected their a more complete story of the star. Venus Ephemeris by that means. Spin- The question has rightly been raised den has similarly endeavored to demon- whether it is worth while to send to this strate a connection of the Venus Eph- section the records of our observations emeris with the Maya Lunar and Equi- or merely the totals. Perhaps the solu- noxial records. Here again, the evi- tion to this question lies in the cultiva- dence seems scanty, and the methods of tion of friendships among amateurs, and numeration appear to be mere coindi- when there is interest in some one par- dences justifying no elaborate interrela- ticular variable the thing to do is to tionship. There does seem to be some write to the person who has done the evidence of a coordination between the most observing of it and exchange notes. Maya solar eclipse saros tables and the Such contacts are very stimulating, and Venus Ephemeris. the writer has had much enjoyment from 726 N. Elmwood Avenue, corresponding with an observer in Cer- Oak Park, Illinois. (continupd on page 44) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 44 Amateur Astronomy April, 1936 A German Planetarium in the Service of History HANS D. GAERLER

Professor R. Hennig's article in the 24, p. 500) refers to the higher position November, 1929 issue of "Dic Himmels- of the southern stars, especially the welt" describes a unique application of Southern Cross, in ancient times. He the planetarium at Duesseldorf to his- cites the Bible (Job IX.9 telling of the tory and literature. Southern Cross stars visible at much On the 3rd of July of that year some higher latitude than at present. Cooper eight hundred visitors to the planeta- figured them visible at about 35° rium, all students of Greek literature, north latitude in the year 500 B.C., at were given a demonstration of what cer- 38° in 1000 B.C., and at about 40° tain lines in Homer's Odyssey meant to north in the year 1500 B.C. when seen the Greek of' one thousand years before above the horizon of a large lake or Christ. The Homeric sky was repro- ocean. duced in the planetarium showing how much higher some of the stars, which Professor Hennig further describes the now are low in the southern horizon, use of the planetarium in explaining an- were at that time. other passage of Homer and visualizing That famous line in the Odyssey for the students of Greek literature the (E.272) tells how all the northern stars dipped into the ocean on part of passages they were reading in which their journey around the pole except the constellations were referred to. In book big bear (Ursa Major). To quote from 5 of the Odyssey, where the hero takes Spencer's Faene Queen 1.11.1. leave of Calypso he guides his ship to- ward the land called Scheria, always "By this the northern wagoner had keeping Ursa. Major to his left. This set the planetarium showed. to be an. east His sevenfold teme behind the sted- by northeast course, and both theories, fast starre the one identifying this land as Corfu, That was in ocean waves yet never the other as Tunis, were then discussed wet, in the light of what. the planetarium But firme is fixt, and sendeth light showed. from farre." Whether the secondary school classes At the latitude of Greece the two end in this country studying the classics are stars of the handle of the Big Dipper large enough to justify the special pro- disappear below the northern horizon gram of the planetarium as at Duessel- but in. Homer's day they were circum- dorf is for the directors to decide. In polar, describing a smaller circuit around Germany they seem to regard it a use- the pole which was some 200 lower than ful adjunct to the history or literature now. instruction of their youth. Theo. Cooper in an article in the Open 404 - 8th Street, Court Magazine for August 1910 (Vol. Watertown, Wisconsin.

Oculars and Powers for Observing Amateur Records Variable Stars (continued from page 43) many and one in Japan both of whom (continued from page 41) happened to be interested in the same reveal a star fainter than can be seen variable over a period of years. After with any much lower magnification. all, these more or less human interest The author's 7-inch refracto.r will rarely 12m5 sides of our hobby rather than the se- reveal a star as faint as. when rious scientific ones lend themselves more a 1 7/8-inch ocular is used, but under graciously to our status as amateurs the same observing conditions it will and will do much to keep amateur astro- reach to 14.°'0 with a '-inch eyepiece. nomy alive as a hobby, an avocation Occasionally a star of 14.°'5 can be rather than a vocation. glimpsed. 404 8th Street, St. Petersburg, Florida Watertown, Wis.

PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor April, 1936 Amateur Astronomy 45 Nova Program Notes L. E. ARMFIELD We heartily welcome initial contributions to the nova program received from Richard Hamilton, 4 Union Park, Norwalk, Conn., Frank Preucil and Everett Shaw of Jouet, Ill., and Floyd Shaffer, 12 Grubb St., Poughkeepsie, N. Y. Low powered binoculars were used by the latter in reviewing his area. We gratefully acknowledge the following observations received for the month of February: Magnitude of faintest star visible Area Total Observers Group No. 7 6 5 4 ) 4 Nights Hamilton So. Norwalk ** - 2 5 2 - 9 Preucil Jouet 35 - - 1 7 - 8 Rosebrugh New York 57 lO 1 - - - 11 Shaw Joliet 27 - - 1 1 3 5 Shaffer New York ** - 4 2 - - 6 ** Areas for which numbers have not been assigned to date.

2046 S. 59th Street, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Occultations R. D. COOKE The following occultations occuring in May are predicted for Milwaukee and vicinity: Date Star Mag. Immersion Pos. Angle May i e Leónis 5.1 11:22 P. M. 115 May 3 370B Virginis 6.0 7:41 P. M. May 6 9G Librae 6.5 12:26 A. M. 137° May 22 3 Geminorum 5.8 8:28 P. M. 50° We have hopes of soon working out some plan whereby Amateur Astronomy will be able to publish predictions for a number of different centers in the United States. To this end it is desirable to have occultation leaders in each of the affiliated groups of the AAAA. Will any who want to participate in this program please correspond with the undersigned. 6811 Cedar St.. Wauwatosa, Wis.

Photographic Notes LYNN MATTHIAS We may confidently expect better ob- to do worthwhile work during the com- serving weather with the advent of ing months. spring. The availability of more The establishment of a photographic fruitful areas for observation by those section in the AAVSO should stimulate engaged in the patrol program should activity in the photographic investiga- stimulate activity in this promising field. tion of variable stars. This work, of During the winter months considerable course, requires cameras of somewhat interest was manifest by observers who longer focal length than those adapted have small cameras available, however to the AAAA photographic patrol. An no great number of patrol plates were the pro- very poor announcement and discussion of taken due primarily to the posed AAVSO photographic program conditions and the difficulties of getting adjustment. will appear shortly in 'Amateur Astro- equipment installed and in nomy'. who have been fortunate Those observers Capitol Drive, enough to complete. this preliminary 2121 East Milwaukee, Wisconsin. - work should be in an excellent position PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor April 1936 Amateur Astronomy 47

The official monthly publication of officers are: W. L. Godin, president; J. L. Clarke, vice-president; C. F. Hell- American Amateur Astronomical Association weg, secretary-treasurer. Publication Headquarters The successful organization of this new 2046 S. 59th St.. Milwaukee, Wis. society is due to the many helpful ideas and suggestions given by our good Affiliated Societies friends, Leo and Larry Scanlon of Pitts- Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. burgh, who attended the AAAS conven- Amateur Astronomers Association of Rutherford, tion. We also want to thank the Mil- New Jersey. waukee, Pittsburgh, Dayton and Indian- Amateur Telescope Makers of New York, N. Y. apolis groups for sending copies of their Astronomers Guild of Jamestown, New York. by-laws and offering their help in getting Chicago Amateur Astronomical Association, Chi- this group organized. We hope to join cago, Ill. the AAAA as soon as conditions permit. Long Island Telescope Makers, Wantagh, N. Y. Louisville Astronomical Society, Louisville, Ky. Carl A. Hellweg, Madison Astronomical Society, Madison. Wis. 5246 Cote Brilliante Ave., Milwaukee Astronomical Society, Milwaukee, Wis. St. Louis, Missouri. Norwalk Astronomical Society, Norwalk. Conn.

Editorial Staff Miss Elizabeth Wight, Editor The association is happy to introduce Mrs. A. K. Fisher Miss Carolyn Nickels Franklin W. Smith of Glenolden, Pa., E. A. Halbach H. L. Grunwald as leader of the American Amateur As- Advisory Editors tronomical Association's meteor section. Prof. Leon Campbell - Variable Stars. Mr. Smith comes to the association high- Prof. Charles P. Olivier - Meteors. ly recommended by Dr. Charles P. Olivier Prof. George Van Biesbroeck - Asteroids, comets, and double stars. anti it is comforting to know that the activities of the meteor section will be Ten cents per copy, $1.00 per year. guided by so capable a person. Membership in AAAA, $1.00 per year. The association also takes great pleas- including subscription. ure in announcing the establishment of Send all communications to the above address. an exhibition committee with the chair- manship in the ever able hands of Leo J. Scanlon, Valley View Observatory, AAAA Notes Pittsburgh, Pa. Mr. Scanlon is well known to the amateur and professional A NEW SocIETY astronomers alike for his devotion to the At the Amateur Astronomers booth at amateur astronomy movement. He has the recent American Association for the been remarkably successful in presenting Advancement of Science convention held many splendid astronomical exhibits in in St. Louis, names and addresses Were various parts of the country which have obtained of persons who seemed sincerely contributed much to the dissemination of interested in amateur astronomy and telescope making. A total of 40 names astronomical knowledge to the interested was obtained and these people were in- public. vited to attend a meeting at one of the In a recent communication received public libraries on Jan. 22. from him, and, in his ever inimitable man- Prof. W. L. TJpson, president of the ner, Leo informs the members of the asso- St. Louis Museum of Science and Indus- ciation that they are only too welcome to try, after hearing of our plans to form use any of the interesting material he a society, suggested that we become af- has available for exhibition purposes, filiated with the Museum. This was whenever and wherever an exhibition is later accomplished and we are now scheduled to be held. The only obligation known as the Astronomical Section of being the material must be returned the Museum. We were given use of an that assembly room where we can hold our to the source after the show, which is meetings and a basement room for our fair enough. workshop. We are very grateful for The following new members received this consideration and are now equipping during December and January are cor- the workshop with grinding pedestals dially welcomed to the AAAA. and testing equipment for making telescope mirrors. Memberships received during March Our official name is the St. Louis will appear in the May issue of this Amateur Astronomical Society. The magazine.

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Memberships Received Before February

AAA of Rutherford, N. J. 131 Park Avenue East Rutherford, N. J. James S. Andrews 33 Franklin Place Rutherford, N. J. H. Ashford 118 Dearing Avenue Jamestown, New York Prof. Vincent Batha Carroll College Waukesha, Wisconsin Mr. Beede Florida & Hillman Ave. Youngstown, Ohio Alfred Bidwell 131 Park Avenue East Rutherford, N. J. 322 E. 56th Street New York, New York Frank Biribauer York J. C. Brat Route 2 Jamestown, New Charles Brocknieyer Fredonia, Kentucky James Buchanan 61 Overhill Avenue Youngstown, Ohio John H. Chase 69 Benita Avenue Youngstown, Ohio G. W. Cooke Wynnewood, Pennsylvania Robert Cox 1074 Park Place Brooklyn, New York L. L. Doolittle P. 0. Box 341 So. Norwalk, Conn. Clinton B. Ford 904 Forrest Avenue Ann Arbor, Michigan E. E. Fritan 6542 Smiley Avenue St. Louis, Missouri Bertram M. Froehly 41 W. 184th Street Bronx, New York W. E. Gaines 400 E. 9th Street Winston-Salem, N. C. Mrs. Clara Gordon 6210 Oakland Avenue St. Louis, Missouri David E. Griffith 3841 Second Avenue Minneapolis, Minnesota Walter H. Haas Miller H., Mt. Union Col. Alliance, Ohio Paul J. Hagar 131 W. Newel Avenue Rutherford, N. J. W. J. Hall 3814 N. 29th Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin Edward Hanna 83 East 121st Street New York, New York A. Hanson 76 Aherns Avenue Jamestown, New York Bert Hanson 530 Stone Avenue Jamestown, New York Herbert W. Harris 6948 74th Street Glendale, L. I., N. Y. Marshal Hedstrom 529 Stone Avenue Jamestown, New York Henriksen Columbus, Wisconsin Julius Mo. G. N. Hinchman 422 Bonpart Avenue Webster Groves, Dr. Charles D. Humberd Barnard, Missouri Albert G. Ingalls 24 West 40th Street New York, New York K. M. Johnson 36 Scioto Street Jamestown, New York Dr. J. H. Kusner University of Florida Gainsville, Florida John Loebbick 310 Union Street Carlstadt, New Jersey Louis Lojas 1510 White Plains Road Bronx, New York Paul Loofboro Reedsburg High School Reedsburg, Wisconsin G. H. Lutz 18420 Keswick Street Roseda, California E. A. Miller 1321 Foster Street Youngstown, Ohio T. J. Murphy 120 West 89th Street New York, New York P. 0. Parker Cohutta, Georgia Royal Perkinson 2216 Hammons Avenue Fresno, California Harry G. Phair 364 Page Avenue Lyndhurst, New Jersey Prof. W. H. Pickering Mandeville, Jam., B. W. I. Rev. C. J. Renner Trenton, Ohio D. W. Roseburgh 3 Yates Boulevard Poughkeepsie, New York Walter C. Ross 1051 Bankers Bldg. Milwaukee, Wisconsin Irving Rothstein 1163 Summit Avenue Jersey City, New Jersey Leo J. Scanlon Valley View Observatory Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania Roy A. Seely 560 West 231st Street New York, New York Floyd C. Shaffer 12 Grubb Street Poughkeepsie, New York Prof. C. R. Smith Aurora College Aurora, Illinois Henry Smith e/o B. W. Lamson Medeira, Ohio J. R. Sundell 529 East 5th Street Jamestown, New York J. Robert Theaman 501 Madison Avenue New York, New York T. K. Tomkins 215 Cricket Avenüe North Hills, Pennsylvania Bert Topham 105 Regent Street West Toronto, Ont., Can. Theodore Treadwell 113 S. Midland Avenue Arlington, New Jersey Ben Trout 120 East ist Street Burbank, California C. R. West Timpas, Colorado David White 725 N. Water Street Milwaukee, Wisconsin Adrian Williamson Monticello, Arkansas Latimer J. Wilson 1606 Woodland Street Nashville, Tennessee Herbert Zang 1165 Gerard Avenue New York, New York PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 50 Amateur Astronomy ApriL 1936 Metropolitan Notes Milwaukee News Notes MILWAUKEE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Nnw YORK AND NEw JERSEY REGION R. D. COORS. Presiileisi Organizer JAMES S. ANDREWS, Regional Dr. Forrest Ray Moulton, formerly of 33 Franklin Place, Ruthertord, N. J. the University of Chicago, who, with Dr. METROPOLITAN ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY Chamberlain formulated the planetesmial A committee meeting was held at Plan- hypothesis, spoke at the February meet- ter's Restaurant in New York on Friday ing of the Society. It was a special evening, Feb. 28 to discuss the details privilege for the society members to hear relative to the organization of the Metro- Dr. Moulton, as he is internationally politan section of the AAAA. knowm Leaders from a number of local groups The Milwaukee Astronomical Society attended and went over various points was invited to exhibit as a unit of the at the dining table. It was decided to Milwaukee Hobby Council at the four- go ahead with a definite working pro- teenth annual Home Show held in the gram, and to this end a lecture meeting Milwaukee Auditorium, March 14 - 21. will be held early in April at which a The Society's representative in the Hob- permanent organization will be formed. by Council, Edward Halbach, arranged The groups signifying their intention the exhibit with the assistance of Scott of joining were the Amateur Astrono- Houston, Herbert Grunwald, and Russel mers Association of Rutherford, N. J., Bautz. The exhibit centered around the Amateur Astronomers Association of telescope making and included a lens Teaneck, N. J., the Astronomers Guild grinding machine, a revolving display of Jamestown, N. Y., the Amateur Tele- showing steps in making a mirror, scope Makers of New York, and the cross-sectioned reflecting and refracting Long Island Telescope Makers. telescopes and photographs and literature pertaining to telescope making. A 4- AMATEUR ASTRONOMERS ASSOCIATION inch and a 10-inch reflecting telescope OF RUTHERFORD, N. J. made by Mr. Bautz were on exhibit. Astronomical lantern slides loaned by JAMES S. ANDREWS, President the Milwaukee Public Museum were The February 24 meeting was ad- shown on a ground glass screen. dressed by Irving Meyer, on "Minor Members of the society were in at- Planets and the Problems Involved in tendance throughout the week. Con- Computing Their Ephemerides". Sev- ciderable interest was shown by the eral members are working on these com- public. Approximatey 100,000 persons putations and hope to be of assistance passed the exhibit, and hundréds stopped to science in determining and observing fer more detailed information. the positions of these tiny bodies. The first meeting in March was addressed by Due to lack of space in the March N. J. Heins of Paterson, N. J., who dis- bulletin notice of Herbert W. Cornell's cussed, "Solar Observations". He ac- talk at the public museum the latter part comp.anied his talk with many charts, of January had to be omitted. He spoke diagrams, photographs, and demonstrat- on the mythology cf the constellations. ed with equipment just how this interest- Hi talk was one of the regularly ached- ing work is accomplished. uled museum lectures. L. E. Armfield spoke at the Immanuel Lutheran Educational Society -n "A AMATEUR TELESCOPE MAKERS OF N. Y. President Journey Through Our Corner of the Uni- LEW LOJAS, verse", and at the West Allis Presby- 1510 White Plains Road, Bronx, N. Y. terian Church on "Astronomy for Young The weather has been so poor that ob- People". serving has been almost at a standstill Roy Lewis has purchased a 5-inch re- and meetings have had to be postponed. fractor from CharTes Ridai of Yerkes We have four new members. Observatory. Scott Houst:r :nsrrated telescope ASTRONOMERS Guiu 0F JAMERTOWN, making a: the Srreet Social Cen- Ngw,Yoa ter. Mar:L i: RAROLD ASEFORD. PresMit At t :-E:: in the absence 118 Dearing Avenue. Jamest.w, N. Y. of - :-: ¿erbert Cornell, rice rc: and introduced The observatory has been completed L i -Tengren, one of Marlowe road on top of English HiE. - y. Mr. Heden- The dome, a hemisphere, is 16 feet in wa::anahOn of his diameter and sets on ball hearings ir stars and their channels. It is covered with heavy ean- r eaìaxy. This talk

(continued on page 52) - ca'-2 page 52) PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor 52 Amateur Astronomy April 1936 Planetary Section Notes Chicago News (cont'in'u.ed from page 46) (continued from page 49) John McNeil reports that a new club SUN SPOT OBSERVATIONS has been organized in Evanston, called By JOHN D. LUCZKA, West Allis, Wis. "The Amateur Telescope Makers of January, 1936. Evanston". The members have three 8-inch mirrors one 6-inch way. Number of days of observation: 7 and under Average number of spots per day: 10.1 We wish them every success and assure Average number of groups per day: 2.7 them of our cooperation. Average number of new groups per day: The response to the article on the loan 1.4 bureau has been very gratifying. Ed Predominantly active Martz has loaned a 3-inch refractor hemisphere: North- which is being used by Miss Trimmier, ern. ... - Faculae and sunspot 'bridges' numerous. a 6-inch mirror, polished but not figured, 726 N. Elmwood Avenue, two tripods, a short tube for a 6-inch Oak Park, Illinois. mirror, a substantial wood base on cas- ters and a number of useful articles which will help some of the members to finish their telescopes. George Warner Metropolitan Notes will loan a fine 6-inch mirror and mount- (continued from page 50) ing which can be put in shape for use. Wm. J. Lovejoy, 9842 Avenue J, Chi- vas on iron rib work. In time, it will cago, reports seeing a fireball and sent house a 16%-inch telescope, but now has in the following description : "Observed a 10-inch Newtonian reflector, equatorial- meteor fall 10:57 P.M. 3-3-36. Seen ly mounted in a lattice tube. The ob- first a little above and to the left of servatory will be opened to the public Arcturus, although exact position uncer- as soon as weather permits. tain due to sudden appearance. From Newly elected officers are, Anton Han- 1/10 to '/ as bright as moon. Color, pe- son, president; K. H. Johnson, vice-pres- culiar whitish brilliance of magnesium. ident; and Marshall Hedstrom, secreta- A yellowish green halo or vapor sur- ry-treasurer. rounded it and waved like a flame as the meteor broke up. Several greenish yel- LONG ISLAND TELESCOPE MAKERS low pieces broke off and trailed to the A. R. LUECIIINGER, President rear in the vapor as meteor went out. Box 214, Wantagh. N. Y. Fell at steep angle, perhaps from 60 to The Long Island Telescope Makers 70°. Came from east. No noise except was organized in July 1934 in the inter- possibly a faint swish which may not have belonged to it. Course appeared to est of telescope making. Four members be somewhat oscillatory in small degree. belong to the AAVSO. Two of our Size 1/ to 1/3 diameter of moon." group have observatories, one housing 1819 w. 78th Street, Chicago, Illinois. an 8-inch and the other a 10-inch reflector. A 6-inch Cassegranian, a 6-inch Pyrex clock driven and several other Milwaukee News Notes 6-inch reflectors and a 5-inch refractor (continued from page 50) comprise most of our equipment appeared as a special article in Amateur Meetings are held at three week in- Astronomy last month. tervals at members' homes. We welcome the following to the membership, Mr. and Mrs. W. J. Hall, Miss OBSERVATIONS FOR FEBRUARY 1936 Marcella Schneider. Mr. Hall is a science AMATEUR As'rRoNoMERs ASSOCIATION instructor at North Division High OF RUTHERFORD, N. J. School. Variable Stars Observed: This spring is the first time that the Delta Librae 4 Nova Herculis 6 observing members did not have to wal- R Leonis 8 Mira 2 low in mud in Mr. Armfield's backyard, 4 Stars 20 Observations due to the foresight of Edward Halbach Planets: - who, with th.e assistance of the follow- Neptune 22 Uranus 15 ing members, Darryl and Frank Moore, 2 Planets 37 Observations R. D. Cooke, Harold Stamm, Julius Minor Planets: - Mueller, and M. J. W. Phillips, placed 2 Pallas 9 129 Antigone 2 concrete aprons around the 10-inch and 60 Echo 2 207 Hedda 4 13-inch telescopes. The telescopes were 91 Metis 3 521 Brixia 2 painted and the backyard prepared for 6 Minor Planets 22 Observations winter. This happened during Mr. Arm- field's visit in the east last October. NOTE: All observations are recorded 6811 Cedar Street, in detail as to time, Wauwatosa. Wisconsin. PDF compression, OCR, web optimizationposition, etc. using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor