AMATEUR Published Monthly by the American Amateur Astronomical Association
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AMATEUR Published monthly by the American Amateur Astronomical Association Vol. 3, No, 7 Aug. - Sept. Ten Cents FORWARD L. E. ARMFIELD, Organizing Chairman American Amateur Astronomical Association In the northern latitudes the summer ciation to establish the pay-as-you-go season is rapidly drawing to a close. plan as outlined in the paragraphs above. Bathing, boating, touring and week-end : The AAAA is indebted deeply to these vacations soon will be stored away until 17 members and our printers, for without another season. Thoughts will be turn- their general support the publication of ing to leisure time activities during the the magazine, Amateur Astronomy, winter months ahead. would have been reduced by necessity to six issues a year or perhaps discontinued As an organization, the AAAA has entirely. In recognition of the faith been using the lull of the summer months which these members have expressed in for building the foundation of the finan- the work of the association it would be cial structure of the magazine, Amateur obtain our little enough for each member to Astronomy. Perhaps the members of one new subscriber to Amateur Astron- far flung organization are not aware of omy within the next few months. We it, but Amateur Astronomy has not been trust sincerely that our members will self-sustaining, and in many instances it take advantage of this opportunity for was only through the gracious tolerance contributing his or her bit toward the of our printers, the Schneider Printing establishment of the magazine on a firm Company, that the magazine made its financial basis. regular monthly appearance. We wish also to take this opportunity Through personal conversation, by let- for expressing our appreciation to the ter and telephone, we have received as- many faithful members of the AAAA surance from AAAA members through- who have devoted their talents and un- out the land that the magazine and the told hours of effort to the development association must carry on, for to carry of the association. Mere words of Com- on is only a partial payment of our debt mendation are entirely inadequate for to astronomy for the cultural benefits voicing the gratitude of the AAAA to received through the study of science. section leaders such as CoOke, Haas, In addition to these welcome expressions Martz, Matthias, Rosebrugh, Scanlon, of confidence, ten members have agreed Smith, Wilson and Wiegel for their ex- to contribute five dollars per month for cellent work in guiding the research ac- a twelve month period. The 50 dollars tivities open to amateur astronomers. It collected monthly in this fashion guaran- is impossible also, to compensate in tees the publication of 10 issues of Ama- praise or remuneration, the never end- teur Astronomy during the coming year ing labors of the publications committee, and provides the 60 dollars required to namely, Fisher, Grunwald, Halbach, cover the printing, postage and envelope Nickels and Wight. The regional organi- costs of each issue. In the meantime, zers, Andrews, Binney, Callum, Doolittle, all revenues derived from subscriptions, Scanlon, Simpson and Wilson have car- advertising and reservation of space by ried a tremendous load since the incep- the affiliated societies in the twelve tion of the movement for which the asso- month period, August 1, 1937 to July ciation is unendingly grateful. The ob- 81, 1988, will be deposited in a credit servers, investigators, optical workers, union. At the end of the year the instrument builders and lecturers who, money accumulated will be withdrawn through their efforts furftished the ma- and divided among the 10 contributors. terial for discussion and dissemination in They have agreed graciously, however, the columns of Amateur Astronomy, to take whatever loss may be incurred, have contributed immeasurably to the which probably will be between 12 and rapid success of the AAAA. 24 dollars. In a brief moment of calm reflection that the AAAA Donations received from seven other it is strikingly evident which were ac- is a vital living being, deriving its nour- members discharged debts the very lives of its mem- cumulated during the period January 1, ishment from thereby wiping bers. With its roots in such fertile soil, 1937 to August 1, 1937, (continued on page 1s1) the slate clean and permitting the asso- PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor Page 116 Amateur Astronomy Aug.-Sept., 1937 A Peruvian Amateur Astronomer The Harvard University news office Dr. Menzel emphasized that it was un- recently released the following tribute usual to obtain such excellent photo- to a Peruvian amateur astronomer, graphs when the telescope is operated whose efforts are inspirational to ama- by hand. Romano's telescope had a 6- teur astronomers the world over. inch aperture, and an 8%-foot focal "A Peruvian amateur astronomer re- length. cording last month's total solar eclipse Romano also obtained four striking with his own hand-operated telescope of the corona as appears to camera, obtained notable photographs of pictures it the sun's corona. The negatives, just the human eye, its light unaffected by received at Harvard Observatory, are the polaroid. His measures of the bright- among the finest ever seen by the Har- ness of the corona made with a Weston vard observers, and will be of con- illumination meter are consistent with siderable scientific importance for future measures reported by professionals work- analysis of some of the mysteries of the ing elsewhere on this eclipse. His ob- bright solar halo," according to Dr. Don- servations were taken at Huangra, Peru. ald H. Menzel, Harvard specialist in A sidelight of the affair, it was re- eclipse phenomena. vealed, is that Harvard Observatory liad The amateur astronomer is Fernando made up its mind to take no observa- de Romana, of Arequippa, Peru, who tions of the June eclipse. But months acted as an unofficial and volunteer Har- ago Romano asked Harvard for advice vard observer during the spectacular in making photographs of the totality, eclipse of June 8. Using special polar- and his request led the astronomers to oid screens sent him from the Harvard entrust their valuable equipment to him. Observatory, he obtained four photo- The Romano negatives were especially graphs showing very clearly the effects welcome, it was pointed out, since addi- of polarization in the light of the sun's tional photographs were needed to sup- corona. plement the measures of coronal polári- Although this was the observer's first zation made last year by the Harvard- eclipse work, so far as is known, the M. I. T. eclipse expedition to Russia un- Harvard scientists have found his photo- der the direction of Dr. Menzel. The graphs so accurately standardized as to Peruvian pictures thus fill out the 1936 enable delicate quantitative studies of observations, which the Harvard astro- the coronal polarization. nomers are now analyzing. Variable Star Section D. W. ROSEBRUGH, Director A POPULAR VARIABLE STAR Among the letters which have been re- observations of variable stars will be ceived commenting on this column there obtained by amateurs and submitted to have been inquiries as to its purposes the AAVSO and others who can use and aims. The sole purpose is to en- them best, In time these observations courage the active observation of vari- may help to solve the secrets of the uni- able stars by amateurs. It appears that verse. this aim can be achieved best in three The lists showing the number of ob- ways; first, by stimulating new obser servations made which have been in- vers to take up the work, second, by cluded in this column in the past have making the paths of all observers as been merely intended to interest other easy as possible by passing on sugges- amateurs in observing for themselves the tions as to time-saving methods discov- sights reported. However, as this mater- ered by others, and third, by securing ial appears elsewhere in more complete and publishing interesting facts with re- form, it seems better for the present to gard to variable stars which will make cease listing the number of stars seen the work of those who are now observing and the observations made. It is be- these stars more fascinating. lieved, however, that the comments upon This column is not intended to sup- the unusual actions of various stars are plant any work being done by the AA of sufficient interest to warrant continu- VSO or any other society or publication. ing this feature. If our readers feel The ultimate hope is that through the that this is the case the writer would efforts of this column more and better appreciate receiving many more coni- PDF compression, OCR, web optimization using a watermarked evaluation copy of CVISION PDFCompressor Aug.-Sept., 1937 Amateur Astronomy Page 117 ments of this type. All that is necessary they occur entirely at random as they is a post card giving the data. To those would if determined by the laws of who have contributed observations in the chance. The following tabulation based past we extend our thanks and ask them upon data supplied to Dr. Sterne by to continue reporting on this new basis. Prof. Leon Campbell shows the irregu- Tt is hoped that a brief description of larity with which the dips occur. the popular star 154428 R Coronae Bor- ealis will further the aim of this column Length of time be- as described above for this star is an tween dips to below easy one for the beginner and the 7.5 mag. No. of Occurrences its vaga- O-300 days ries are also of great interest to ex- 28 perienced amateurs.