SCHOOL OF PRACTICAL ASTRONOMY.
Astronomy B1: General Astronomy: The fundamental principles and
methods of astronomy.—(B.A. or B.S. credit, 3 session-hours.) Associate
Professor Olivier and Instructor.
Astronomy B2: Modern Astronomy: Astronomy B1 prerequisite.—Newer
methods in astronomy; use of instruments.—(B.A. or B.S. credit, 3 session-hours.)
Hours to be arranged. Professor Mitchell.
Astronomy B3: Navigation: Mathematics A1 prerequisite.—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.) Assistant
Professor Alden.
Astronomy C1: Spherical and Practical Astronomy: Astronomy B1 and
Mathematics B1 prerequisite.—Spherical astronomy and theory of astronomical
instruments, with practical exercises in making and reducing astronomical observations.—Hours
to be arranged. Assistant 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. Associate 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.—Hours 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 twentysix
inches aperature. 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 spectograms, 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.
MR. LEANDER MCCORMICK-GOODHART.
PROFESSOR S. I. BAILEY, HARVARD COLLEGE OBSERVATORY.
THE DIRECTOR OF THE LEANDER MCCORMICK OBSERVATORY.
For information in regard to the Vanderbilt Fellowships in astronomy
see page 123.
