Abstract
HALF a century ago the attention of astronomers was almost entirely confined to the study of the movements of the heavenly bodies; indeed, Bessel actually defined astronomy as consisting therein. But since then an entirely new department of astronomy has been developed, to which the name “Astro-physics” has been given, and this new department proceeds along three principal lines—spectroscopy, photometry, and photography. The great Observatory founded by the munificence of the late James Lick is to be chiefly engaged in the development of the third of these methods, though spectroscopy will also receive a large share of attention. Having therefore in view the chief purpose to which the great powers of his Observatory will be devoted, the Director of the Lick Observatory has here given a clear and concise account of the principal services which photography has rendered to astronomy in the past, and an analysis of those which may be expected from it in the future. A description of the facilities for photographic research possessed by the Lick Observatory completes this interesting and instructive paper. Prof. Holden mentions incidentally that Mr. Grubb's ingenious device for placing the observer in position for using the telescope, by raising or lowering the entire floor, will be adopted in the great dome of the Observatory.
Photography the Servant of Astronomy.
By Edward S. Holden. (Reprinted from the Overland Monthly, November 1886.)
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Photography the Servant of Astronomy . Nature 35, 317 (1887). https://doi.org/10.1038/035317a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/035317a0