TRANSACTIONS OF THE TORONTO ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1900 INCLUDING ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. PRICE ONE DOLLAR TORONTO: THE CARSWELL COMPANY, LIMITED, PRINTERS TO THE SOCIETY. 1901. TABLE OF CONTENTS. PAGE. Frontispiece, Lunar Photograph from Yerkes’ Observatory. ANNUAL MEETING . 3 Chromoscope; construction, etc., Mr. D. J. Howell . 5 Liquid Air, Mr. J. E. Maybee, M.E . 5 Interesting Barometric Tracings, Mr. A. F. Hunter, M.A . 5 Mercury, Venus and Zodiacal Light, Messrs. Atkinson, Miller and Elvins . 7 Solar Observations by Projection, Mr. F. L. Blake and Mr. G. G. Pursey . 7 Variation in Brilliancy of Venus, Mr. T. Lindsay . 7 Planetary Work at Lowell Observatory, Mrs. A. G. Savigny . 8 Huggins’ Representative Spectra, Mr. A. F. Miller . 8 Construction of Planispheres, Mr. J. E. Maybee, M.E. 8 Preliminary Eclipse Papers, Messrs. Elvins, Atkinson, Wadsworth, Miller, Musson, Collins and Harvey . 8 Standing Light Waves, Mr. C. A. Chant, B.A. 13 Seismology, Mr. R. F. Stupart . 13 Total Eclipse of the Sun, 1900, May 28th, Local Observations . 15 Lunar Rays, Mr. A. Elvins . 15 Total Eclipse of the Sun, 1900, May 28th, Mr T. Lindsay and the President . 15 Phenomena of Surface Reflection, Mr. J. A. Collins . 24 Comet Seeking, Prof. W. R. Brooks, F.R.A.S. 27 Scorpio, Mr. J. A. Paterson, M.A.. 27 Death of Prof. Keeler . 28 Total Solar Eclipses, 1878 and 1896, Mrs. Jere Horne . 29 Monoplane Telescopes—The Messrs. Collins’ Claim . 30 Great Nebula in Andromeda, Rev. R. Atkinson. 30 Improved Definition in Refractors, Prof. T. J. J. See . 31 Recent Criticisms of the Nebular Hypothesis, Mr. J. R. Collins . 31 Color Photography, Mr. D. J. Howell . 32 Synchronism of Auroral Displays, Mr. A. Harvey, F.R.S.C. 33 Solar Eclipse Photography, Prof. C. Burckhalter . 35 Earth, Mr. A. F. Miller. 35 Recurrences of Eclipses, Mr. T. Lindsay . 35 Observation of Shooting Stars, Mr. W. F. Denning, F.R.A.S. 36 Some Contributions of Astronomy to Practical Life and Thought, Mr. J. E. Maybee, M.E. 41 Magic Numbers, Mr. A. Elvins . 42 Art and Astronomy, Mr. J. A. Paterson, M.A. 43 ANNUAL MEETING . 45 Genesis of the Moon, Mr. J. Phillips. 45 Experiences in Popularizing Astronomy, Mr. T. R. Clougher . 47 Addenda—Prior Claims, Etc. 48 LUNAR CRATERS ARISTOTLE AND EUDOXUS, AND SURROUNDING REGION. Photographed with the 40-inch visual telescope of the Yerkes Observatory with color screen. October 12, 1900, exposure ½ second, enlarged 5¼ diameters from original negative. TRANSACTIONS OF THE TORONTO ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY FOR THE YEAR 1900 INCLUDING ELEVENTH ANNUAL REPORT. PRICE ONE DOLLAR TORONTO: THE CARSWELL COMPANY, LIMITED, PRINTERS TO THE SOCIETY. 1901. T R A N S A C T I O N S OF DURING THE YEAR 1900. FIRST MEETING. 1900, January 23rd. This being the annual public meeting was held in the Library of the Canadian Institute, the new Presi- dent, Mr. G. E. Lumsden, F.R.A.S., in the chair. The attendance was large. After the transaction of some formal business, the President spoke briefly upon the history and work of the Society. In the course of his remarks, he said that during the past ten years as an incorporated body, and during the five years prior to 1890, as a group of observers united together by the strong bond of com- mon interest in the practical study of Astronomy, the members of the Society had endeavored to keep alight at this northern outpost the lamp committed to their charge, a lamp which had been lighted long years ago by men who, in a new country, were denied many of the advantages now within the reach of the ma- jority of the students of Science. The wick of the lamp had been trimmed by loving hands and its flame, sometimes bright, sometimes dim, had been an object of solicitude to men whose heads had been whitened by the frosts of advancing years. It was matter for congratulation that most of these men were still spared, setting, as they did, examples worthy of emulation, for they had 4 Transactions of the Toronto Astronomical Society. exemplified the virtues of patience and application and had mani- fested a steady determination to make the best of their oppor- tunities. The Society had much for which to be thankful and had in more than one respect been very fortunate. It had been fortunate in having for some years as its Honorary President the late Minister of Education, the Hon. G. W. Ross, LL.D., who had, by deserved advancement, recently become Prime Minister of his native province, and owing to whom it had for some years enjoyed the practical advantages of an annual grant. And now he was succeeded as Minister of Education by a gentleman no less a friend of scientific pursuits, the Hon. Richard Harcourt, Q.C., whose cheering letter accepting the position of Honorary Presi- dent they had just heard read. The President felt that the in- terests of the Society were safe in the hands of Mr. Harcourt, who appreciated and would doubtless recognize its efforts to make provision for popularizing Astronomy in Ontario, one of its under- takings when it had received a subvention from the Province. The Society was equally fortunate in having elicited the practical sympathy of the Mayor and City Council and would show that it deserved these marks of confidence from the Province and the City. It must, however, continue to depend upon its own energies, which had been highly creditable, and to rely upon its own re- sources, which were capable of further development. The President then introduced Mr. Arthur Harvey, F.R.S.C., the retiring President, who read the Annual Address, entitled “As- tronomy,—in Infancy, Growth and Maturity,” which was pub- lished in extenso in the Transactions for 1899. At the close of the paper, the members and their friends spent a pleasant hour in social intercourse. Transactions of the Toronto Astronomical Society. 5 SECOND MEETING. February 6th; the President in the chair. Mr. J. Britnell, Sen., and Mr. J. Britnell, Jr., of Toronto, were elected active mem- bers. Mr. D. J. Howell, having explained the principles underlying the construction of a chromoscope which had been lent him by Mr. Laidlaw, of Hamilton, exhibited and described several beautiful slides representing fruits and flowers, the natural col- ors of which were faithfully portrayed and were heightened by the admirable stereoscopic effect. Mr. Howell reviewed the in- genious processes employed in the preparation of the slides. The paper of the evening on Liquid Air, illustrated by num- erous diagrams, was read by Mr. J. Edward Maybee, C.E. It was exhaustive in its treatment of the history of the subject and discussed the commercial uses to which liquid-air had been and may probably be put. The claims of various investigators and inventors were impartially analysed and the processes employed in the manufacture of the new agent were discussed. The exposi- tion was clear and comprehensive and evoked an animated discuss- ion. THIRD MEETING. February 20th; the President in the chair. Mr. A. F. Miller presented, on behalf of Mr. A. F. Hunter, M.A., of Barrie, two interesting tracings of the curve of an aneroid-barometer show- ing distinct eleven-day minima deduced from observations ex- tending throughout 1899, December, and 1900, January. A short but timely and highly instructive preliminary paper upon the approaching total solar eclipse of May 28th, was read by Mr. T. Lindsay. Mr. J. R. Collins reported having successfully intro- duced glass-fibres as spider-lines in a telescope-finder and that the results had been satisfactory. It was announced that Sir Sandford Fleming, an Honorary Member, was endeavoring to 6 Transactions of the Toronto Astronomical Society. have the 24-hour system of time notation, of which he was the consistent advocate, used on the dials of the new City Hall clock, partly for educational purposes and partly as a compliment to Toronto, where, under the auspices of the Canadian Institute, Sir Sandford had first propounded his plans for reforming the counting of time. The President laid before the members his views as to cer- tain changes which he thought could, with advantage, be made in some of the details of their work as a body, and in still further carrying out the excellent general policy formulated and promoted by his predecessors. He suggested that, when permissible, funds should be set aside for the purchase of a first-class electric-lantern and other apparatus; for slides, in series, to illustrate papers of all kinds and for use not only in the meetings of the Society but on public occasions, and that the library, already by far the best of its kind in Canada, should receive still further attention, chiefly as regarded the acquisition of popular as well as standard books. He pointed out that this was the pioneer Canadian Society and that as other Societies were formed, it would be looked to for guidance and advice and possibly assistance. It occupied a proud position, one that it could maintain if it continued to move along wisely considered lines. He urged all the members to take up practical work, the value of which was beyond estimation in en- gendering and sustaining interest in the ends the Society had been endeavoring to achieve,—the popularization of Astronomy. He said he hoped that the excellent example set by some of the members in affording to others opportunities for observation, even if they did not belong to the Society, would be followed by other members, for the results were bound to be beneficial not only to the Society, but to themselves as practical workers.