He
translated the classic work of Gauss, Theoria Motus Corporum
Celestium, and made the office a sort of informal school, not,
indeed, of the modern type, but rather more like the classic grove
of Hellas, where philosophers conducted their discussions and
profited by mutual attrition. When, after a few years of
experience, methods were well established and a routine adopted,
the office was removed to Washington, where it has since remained.
The work of preparing the ephemeris has, with experience, been
reduced to a matter of routine which may be continued
indefinitely, with occasional changes in methods and data, and
improvements to meet the increasing wants of investigators.
The mere preparation of the ephemeris includes but a small part of
the work of mathematical calculation and investigation required in
astronomy. One of the great wants of the science to-day is the
reduction of the observations made during the first half of the
present century, and even during the last half of the preceding
one. The labor which could profitably be devoted to this work
would be more than that required in any one astronomical
observatory. It is unfortunate for this work that a great building
is not required for its prosecution because its needfulness is
thus very generally overlooked by that portion of the public
interested in the progress of science.
Pages:
363
364
365
366
367
368
369
370
371
372
373
374
375
376
377
378
379
380
381
382
383
384
385
386
387