SEARCHING FOR NEW PLANETS AT UNIVERSITY OBSERVATORY

The systematic search for new stars begun several years ago at the University Observatory is being continued with most gratifying results under the direction of Professor S. I. Bailey '88. During the period that the search has been carried on 18 new stars have been discovered, and at present a photographic study of the milky way is being made.

Prior to 1886 only nine new stars had been discovered in 400 years, but since then 25 have been located, including the 18 detected from the University Observatory. Among other undertakings assumed by the Observatory is the completion of the life work of Professor E. C. Pickering '65, who made a survey and classification of over 200,000 stars. The observations of this great survey are practically complete, and the catalogue is in its final stages.

In co-operation with Professor Kapteyn of Holland, the Observatory is also making an exhaustive study of the magnitude and position of stars far too small to be seen by the naked eye. There are nearly 100,000,000 such stars, but by selecting typical areas it is possible to generalize accurately about the entire number.