SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY.
Astronomy B1: General Astronomy: Mathematics A1 prerequisite.—
The fundamental principles and methods of theoretical and practical astronomy.—(B.A.
or B.S. credit, 3 session-hours.) Professor Mitchell and
Instructor.
Astronomy B2: Modern Astronomy: Astronomy B1 prerequisite.—
Newer methods in astronomy; use of instruments; principles of navigation.—(B.A.
or B.S. credit, 3 session-hours.) Hours to be arranged. Adjunct
Professor Olivier.
Astronomy B3: Navigation: Mathematics A1 prerequisite.—For men
who wish to prepare for service in the United States Merchant Marine or
in the United States Navy. Day's work, middle-latitude sailing, Mercator's
sailing, great circle sailing, distance from a fixed object, use of charts,
latitude, longitude, correction of compass, Sumner lines, etc., Laboratory
fee, $5.—(B.A. or B.S. credit, 3 session-hours.) Adjunct Professor Alden.
Astronomy C1: Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Astronomy B1 and
Mathematics B2 prerequisite.—Spherical astronomy and theory of astronomical
instruments, with practical exercises in making and reducing astronomical
observations.—Hours to be arranged. Adjunct Professor Alden.
Astronomy C2: Celestial Mechanics: Astronomy B1 and Mathematics
B2 prerequisite.—Rectilinear motion, central forces, potential; problems of
two, three and n bodies, perturbations, determination of a preliminary orbit.—Hours
to be arranged. Adjunct Professor Olivier.
Astronomy D1: Advanced Practical Astronomy: Astronomy C1 prerequisite.—Determination
of the positions of the fixed stars, use of transit
instrument, equatorials and measuring machines.—Hours by appointment.
Professor Mitchell.
Astronomy D2: Theoria Motus: Astronomy B1 and Mathematics B2
prerequisite.—Determination of the position of an undisturbed body from
known elements, determination of the elements of an undisturbed orbit, theory
of special perturbations.—Hour by appointment. Professor Mitchell.
Astronomy D3: Advanced Celestial Mechanics: Astronomy C2 prerequisite.—Problem
of three bodies, and theory of general perturbations.—
Hours by appointment. Professor Mitchell.
Astronomy D4: Photographic Astronomy: Astronomy C1 prerequisite.—
Theory and reduction of astronomical photographs, including spectrograms.
—Hours by appointment. Professor Mitchell.
The Leander McCormick Observatory is situated upon Mount Jefferson,
which furnishes an unobstructed horizon. The principal building is a
rotunda forty-five feet in diameter, which contains the great Clark refractor
of twenty-six inches aperture. The instrument and building are the gift
of the late Leander J. McCormick, Esq., of Chicago. The telescope is fitted
with micrometer, photometer, and plate-holder for stellar photography.
The computing rooms adjoining contain clocks, chronograph, machines for
measuring astronomical photographs and spectrograms, and an excellent
working library. In a smaller building are a three-inch transit and a six-inch
equatorial. A temporary students' observatory, erected in the rear
of Dawson's Row, is intended primarily for the use of students in Astronomy
B1.
The members of the Visiting Committee of the Leander McCormick
Observatory are:
THE PRESIDENT OF THE UNIVERSITY.
THE RECTOR OF THE UNIVERSITY.
MR. ROBERT HALL MCCORMICK.
PROFESSOR S. I. BAILEY, ACTING DIRECTOR OF THE HARVARD COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEANDER MCCORMICK OBSERVATORY.
For information in regard to the Vanderbilt Fellowships in astronomy,
see page 96.
