"Tennessee Activity"
For their regular monthly meeting for February, Guild No.1, Tennessee Watchmakers & Jewelers Association, Nashville, were the guests of Vanderbilt University and Dr. Roderic Scott, Professor, of Astronomy, in charge of the Vanderbilt Observatory, Tuesday night, Feb. 3rd.
President Louis Roach, called the meeting to order in the Physics Lecture room, Garland Hall, at 7:15. After a few brief remarks and mentioning that each and every member present was deeply appreciative of the Universities' invitation, called upon ]. E. Coleman to introduce the speaker of the evening.
Dr. Scott gave the most interesting and enlightening lecture upon time and how it is accurately taken from the stars. At the close of the lecture he conducted the entire group on a tour of the observatory; unfortunately it was very cloudy and actual star transit observations could not be made. The meridian circle or transit telescope was explained as it had been referred to in the previous lecture and it was demonstrated just how sidereal time is determined with it upon the chronograph at the same instant the sidereal clock was making its own written record. Of particular interest to our group was the Warner, Swasey chronograph, the E. J. Dent, sidereal clock and the E. Howard standard time regulator.
Immediately following the tour of the observatory a brief business meeting was held in the observatory office. Mr. S. Geo. Cochron, gave a report of his meeting with Knoxville Guild No.3 at their January meeting, and, also gave a report for L. D. Stallcup for his meeting with Chattanooga Guild No.2 at their January meeting; Mr. Stallcup being sick and unable to attend. Plans were discussed for holding the 1942 Convention in Nashville and President Roach appointed a five man Committee to set the date and take care of arrangements.
The observatory at Vanderbilt is numbered with the best in the country, but is probably better known for its association with the eminent astronomer, Edward Emerson Barnard, (1857-1923) Nashville born. Mr. Barnard studied at Vanderbilt and later had charge of the observatory, (1883-1887), he is widely known for his many discoveries, the most important being that of the fifth satellite of Jupiter.
President Louis Roach, called the meeting to order in the Physics Lecture room, Garland Hall, at 7:15. After a few brief remarks and mentioning that each and every member present was deeply appreciative of the Universities' invitation, called upon ]. E. Coleman to introduce the speaker of the evening.
Dr. Scott gave the most interesting and enlightening lecture upon time and how it is accurately taken from the stars. At the close of the lecture he conducted the entire group on a tour of the observatory; unfortunately it was very cloudy and actual star transit observations could not be made. The meridian circle or transit telescope was explained as it had been referred to in the previous lecture and it was demonstrated just how sidereal time is determined with it upon the chronograph at the same instant the sidereal clock was making its own written record. Of particular interest to our group was the Warner, Swasey chronograph, the E. J. Dent, sidereal clock and the E. Howard standard time regulator.
The observatory at Vanderbilt is numbered with the best in the country, but is probably better known for its association with the eminent astronomer, Edward Emerson Barnard, (1857-1923) Nashville born. Mr. Barnard studied at Vanderbilt and later had charge of the observatory, (1883-1887), he is widely known for his many discoveries, the most important being that of the fifth satellite of Jupiter.
No comments:
Post a Comment