all, but a compound of hydrogen and helium: the helium forming the central sun or nucleus of the system, the hydrogen nuclei appearing as satellites. The combining weight of 14 is explained as due to a central nucleus of three helium nuclei, each of mass 4, the remaining two being accounted for by the hydrogen satellites. It is an interesting coincidence that Dr. Dalton, according to the now accepted account, was first led to his ideas of the atomic structure of matter by a study of the physical properties of the atmosphere. Sir Ernest Rutherford, by experiments on the same gases, now sees in each of Dalton's atoms of nitrogen an atomic system in which two distinct elements play a part, while nitrogen itself, as an element, is apparently to disappear altogether.-English Mechanic and World of Science, June 13, 1919.

A COMPLAINT FROM THE SOUTHERN HEMISPHERE.

Mr. C. H. Tripp, of Timaru, N.Z., writes to the British Astronomical Association to complain of the common practice of ignoring the southern hemisphere in certain statements commonly found in books on astronomy. For example, we constantly find views of the sun, moon, planets and constellations, labeled "as seen with an inverting telescope". It would be proper to add the words "in the northern hemisphere", since in the southern all these objects are seen upside down, as compared with the northern view of them, and the inverting telescope restores them to the positions in which they are seen with the naked eye in northerly latitudes. Another common error, says Mr. Tripp, is to describe the sun as always seeming to move in the direction of the hand of a watch. In the southern hemisphere the sun's apparent movement is just the opposite. He states that even experienced instrument-makers become confused on such subjects and send to southern astronomers equatorial mountings for telescopes with the right ascension circles reading the wrong way round. In one case a price-list of turbines contained particular instructions to purchasers to state whether the turbines were required to turn the way of the sun or against the sun. This came from a firm in the northern hemisphere, and might easily lead to expensive mistakes if the turbines were to be used south of the equator.-Scientific American, May 24, 1918.

NOTES AND QUERIES

Communications are Invited, Especially from Amateurs. The Editor

will try to Secure Answers to Queries

QUERY.

DISTANCE OF DOUBLE STARS.

Can you tell me the angular distances in the case of

1. The two nearer components of the triple Iota Cassiopeiae. 2. Of the two in Iota Leonis?

At present is not the latter distance greater than the former?

ANSWER.

-F. KERR, Alexandria, Ont.

From Burnham's "General Catalogue of Double Stars" the following information is taken.

Iota Cassiopeiae.—Stars A and B, magnitudes 4.2, 7.1; distance (1829) 1.86, (1905) 2".18. Stars A and C, magnitudes 4.2, 8.1; distance (1829), 7".63, (1905) 7".46.

Iota Leonis. Very slow angular motion and probably binary. Magnitudes 3.9, 7.1. Distance, (1832) 2′′.19, (1903) 2′′.56 and slowly diminishing. Now about 2".52.

RECENT ASTRONOMICAL APPOINTMENTS

Mr. W. E. Harper, M.A., for over ten years on the staff of the Dominion Observatory at Ottawa, was recently transferred to the new Astrophysical Observatory, at Victoria, B.C. To the same observatory has also been appointed Capt. H. H. Plaskett, B.A., who, since the armistice, has been studying at the Imperial College of Science, London, under Professor Fowler. Mr. E. A. Hodgson, M.A., has resigned his position as seismologist at the Ottawa observatory in older to enter the teaching profession. To this institution Mr. J. P. Henderson, M.A., has been appointed as assistant astronomer. Mr. Henderson has been acting as assistant in Astronomy at the University of Toronto for the last four years. The present writer extends to each of the above men his good wishes for distinguished success in his future work.

GLOBULAR LIGHTNING.

The phenomenon of Globular Lightning is rarely seen and there is some mystery regarding its true nature. In the first issue (1907) of this JOURNAL a case was reported from Niagara Falls, and last year Mr. Tanton of the Canadian Geological Survey reported another, though somewhat different, example. In "Nature" for June 12, 1919, is reported the observation of two "balls" as seen by G. Gilmore, a research student in University College, Dublin. Mr. Gilmore is studying the electric charge on rain, and is well qualified to report on the phenomenon. Two others claimed to have seen luminous balls during the same storm but their times did not agree and their descriptions were vague. It is certainly remarkable that so many examples of this type of lightning were seen during this storm.

Mr. Gilmore's description is as follows:

On the night of May 14 a thunderstorm took place over Dublin. A shower of rain fell after 9 p.m., but between about 9.25 and 9.40 there was practically no rain, only a few drops falling. At about 9.50 I went outside, and when I had gone about two steps from the door I suddenly saw a luminous ball apparently lying in the middle of the street. It remained stationary for a very brief interval— perhaps a second-and then vanished, a loud peal of thunder occurring at the same time, The ball appeared to be about 18 in. in diameter, and was of a blue colour, with two protuberances of a yellow colour projecting from the upper quadrants. It left no trace on the roadway. The street is about eight yards wide from footpath to footpath, with houses on both sides, the total distance across the street between the houses being about twenty yards. There are no tram-lines on the street. When I observed the ball its distance from me was about ten yards. The thunder was heard just at the disappearance of the ball, but the sound seemed to come from overhead rather than from the place where the ball was. This was the first peal of thunder that I heard, and there was no more thunder or lightning until after 10.15. From 10.40 onwards the thunderstorm was rather violent and the rain heavy. The rain ceased about 12 midnight, but sheet lightning continued to play over the sky. I was looking towards the north at about 12.15, where the sky was fairly clear, with small white clouds scattered over it, when I saw a yellow-coloured ball which appeared to travel a short distance and then disappear. This ball was high up in the sky, and appeared smaller than the first ball described above.

AN OBSERVATORY PROPOSED FOR TORONTO.

One of the outstanding needs of the city of Toronto at the present time is a first-class astronomical observatory. For many years there have been persistent requests from our citizens for the privilege of observing through a large telescope

the various bodies in the sky; the University of Toronto urgently needs facilities for practical instruction and for research in astronomy; and the Royal Astronomical Society of Canada is hampered in its work through the lack of a suitable place where it may put at the service of the public its valuable library and the instruments which it possesses.

These wants have not developed in a day, but have been felt for a decade. Early in 1914 a committee was appointed by the Astronomical Society to consider the question of obtaining an observatory, and the chief provisions of its report were the following:

1. That the city should furnish the site.

2. That the University should maintain the observatory.

3. That the Society should have accommodation for its library and its instru

ments.

4. That the observatory should include in its equipment a large telescope of aperture 20 inches and a smaller one of aperture 9 inches; the former to be at the disposal of the public at stated times (Saturday evenings) and the latter to be ready for use by amateurs at all times.

Let me discuss briefly these proposals. There is a suitable site included in property owned by the city on Bathurst Street, above St. Clair Avenue. It is suggested that the whole property be incorporated into the city's park system and a sufficient portion of it be allotted for the purposes of the observatory. It is intended that the building shall be architecturally fine and this, with many other features to interest the visitor, should make the park a very attractive place.

It is the duty of the University not only to give instruction in astronomy, but also to carry on a serious programme of astronomical research and thus extend the bounds of our knowledge; to do this, however, it must have the proper means. I know of no university, comparable to ours in size or importance, which does not possess a better equipment for practical astronomy. Yet it is essential, as it is only by actual observation that a living interest in the universe about us is aroused. Some may be inclined to say that astronomical investigations have slight practical application, but such criticism is due to a lack of comprehension. Astronomy has many direct practical applications, such as in determining time, in supplying fundamental information for the surveyor and the mariner, and in settling questions of chronology. Then I might refer to the extraordinary history of the gas helium which was discovered through observations at a solar eclipse; but in addition to all this, the discoveries in astronomy have powerfully influenced the development of man's intellect. It may well be placed along with good literature, good music and the fine arts. They are important factors in evolving a noble type of civilization. They extend our horizon, broaden our sympathies and make life much more worth living.

The Astronomical Society during the last thirty years has been accumulating a library which is now of considerable value; and it has acquired a number of instruments, chiefly by donation. It is anxious to secure a suitable place where these may be made available to the citizens.

But it does not require great mathematical talent or special scientific ability to enjoy many of the beauties of the universe, and experience has shown that when a suitable opportunity is offered, the people will seize it. Let me give two instances. The Lick Observatory, on Mt. Hamilton, Cal., has brought distinction to the name of its founder and to the state in which it is located. To reach it one must travel 25 miles up a mountain road, and the time and expense are considerable, yet each year about 5,000, from all parts of the world, visit it. The institution is open to the public every day, but on Saturday evenings the staff entertain the visitors and permit them to use the instruments. But a still more striking illustration is at hand. One of the best-known makers of telescope lenses and mirrors in the world is John A. Brashear, of Pittsburgh, Pa. While working in the rolling mills he made his first lens and mounted it into a telescope, and he has been trying ever since to provide opportunities for others to study the heavens. Some years ago he was chiefly instrumental in raising the funds for a splendid new observatory, and one of the features of it is a telescope continually open to the public. The number of those using the privilege is astonishing. I have been furnished with the following statistics: 1909, 1,620; 1910, 2,779; 1911, 1,817; 1912, 2,410; 1913, 2,588; 1914, 3,278; 1915, 3,941; 1916, 4,290; 1917, 3,373; 1918, 2,957. Total for 10 years, 29,023. Dr. Brashear, in a letter dated April 21 says: "May I say that, while I have been interested in scientific work for nearly half a century, and have done my best to bring the beautiful things in science to the comprehension of the laymen-yes, to the boys and girls-in lectures, etc., nothing outside of my purely educational work has given me so much pleasure as the free department of our observatory,―the realization of a dream of my later childhood? The demand is as great as ever for admission to see the beauty of God's universe, and apart from the scientific side, its high moral worth counts every time and all the time".

I have had some connection with the Boy Scout and Girl Guide movements and the constant demand from these active boys and girls is to view the heavenly bodies through a telescope. The teachers in our schools, as well as their pupils, are ignorant of the wonders of the universe, chiefly because they have not been introduced to them. A good observatory would be a splendid addition to the educational institutions of our city and of the province.

As I have already stated, the proposals outlined above for the establishment of an observatory were drawn up in 1914. First, they were approved by the Council of the Astronomical Society. Then they were presented to the Parks Committee and were endorsed by them. The Board of Governors of the University also expressed approval. Then the war broke out and the active campaign had to be given up. However, the Council of the Society, in order to put its proposition in more definite form secured from an eminent firm of architects sketch plans of the building. These provide for a handsome and commodious structure, well adapted to the varied needs of all parties.

With the coming of peace it was decided to revive the project, and by appointment a large and representative deputation met the Board of Control of the city on June 11. Mr. A. F. Miller, the President of the Society, explained the general