Amherst College - Olio Yearbook (Amherst, MA)

Page 10 text:

6 THE AMHERST OLIO desirability of establishing standard time, he had the satisfaction of seeing his plan unanimously voted. Soon afterward his suggestion was also adopted by Chile, Panama, and other Latin American countries. Professor Todd originated automatic photography of eclipses, and his inventions along this line have been successfully carried out on many expeditions. He was first, too, in having careful Weather observations made along prospective paths of eclipses for several years in advance, that by comparison of results the position most likely to be clear might be selected. He has conducted nine expeditions, which, though they have not all had favorable weather for astronomical purposes, have nevertheless contributed materially to science. He lectures frequently, both at other colleges and before clubs and scientific societies. His published technical papers number over a hundred, and he also writes for magazines, both popular and scientific. He is greatly interested in aeronautics as the best means of studying the atmosphere. Since 1891 he has made many experiments with models of flying apparatus of all sorts, and has taken an active interest in ballooning, making several ascents, the last of which carried him all the way from North Adams to Montreal. He has contributed to many year-books, dictionaries, and encyclo- pedias. Among his books are Stars and Telescopes, and A New Astronomy, now in its 13th edition, which has been translated into many foreign languages, including Hungarian and Turkish. He is a member of many societies and clubs: Fellow of the American Association for the Advancement of Science, member of the Philosophical Society of Washington, the Astronomical and Astrophysical Society, the Aero Club of America, the Boston Authors' Club, the University Club of Boston, the Astronomische Gesellschaft of Germany, the Societe Nationale des Sciences Naturelles et Mathematiques of Cherbourg, the Geographical Society of Lima, the Royal Society of Arts and Sciences of London, and others. For twenty years he served as Secretary of the Faculty, and of the General Alumni Association. Two of the most successful pupils of Professor Todd are Robert H. Baker, '04, and Raymond S. Dugan, '99, now professors at Brown and Princeton. The latter has discovered 16 planets, to three of which he has given Amherst names. This year he is revising his treatise on the planet Mars, and preparing, with the help of C. J. Hudson, '10, complete maps for all the total eclipses of the sun that happen during the next two and a half centuries. His sense of humor helps him to present a sometimes rather difficult subject in a most interesting manner, and makes the students feel that they have in him, not so much an Overseer as a very good friend. Much valuable knowledge is continually being garnered, thanks to Pro- fessor Todd, under the big dome of Observatory Hill. We wish him con- tinued success in his work, and many happy years in which to carry it out.

Page 9 text:

VOLUME LV, 1912 5 island east of Sumatra, in the Java Sea. The Sultan of Lingga, and the Dutch government rendered the expedition every assistance. Many native sultans of the Malay states were met at Singapore, on the peninsula, and in Siam. The expedition returned by way of the Philippines, had an interview with the Sultan of Sulu, and received many courtesies from the Governor, military officers, and American oflicials. In 1902, Professor Todd started the navigation course at Amherst, for instruction in such parts of the science as depend upon astronomy and can be advantageously taught without actual experience at sea. The corner stone of the new observatory was laid in 19035 and two years later the fine 18-inch equatorial telescope was installed. Here observations have been made of eclipses of sun and moon, double stars, satellites, variables, a transit of Mercury, Mars, and Halley's Comet, many classes have been instructed, and many visiting astronomers from other observatories and countries have been entertained. Another eclipse of the sun was studied again from Tripoli in 1905, where both Turks and Arabs, including the Pasha, greeted Professor Todd as an old friend, giving him much valuable assistance, and where, as before, he established his observing place on the terrace of the British Consulate General. Two years later, in 1907, Professor Todd had charge of the Mars expedition to the Andes. The big new telescope was transported to Iquique in Chile, and thence to the elevated pampa lying between the Andes and the Pacific, where for three months its first large and impor- tant work proceeded, in photographing Mars through the clear and steady air of the desert of Tarapaca. Over 12,000 photographs were taken, and much new material was collected for further study of this greatly discussed planet. In August, 1907, when it had retreated too far for satisfactory study, Professor Todd brought his expedition north to Peru. Spending some weeks in Lima as headquarters, he made many trips, by courtesy of the Peruvian government, into the higher Andes, where a greater elevation can be reached by rail than anywhere else in the world 05,865 feetb. The purpose was to test atmospheric conditions for astronomy, and to experiment with his steel compartment car, in which the feeble air pressure at great heights can be restored to that at sea level: the only way discovered for obviating the disagreeable and often dangerous effects of mountain sickness. While in Lima, Professor Todd was elected an honorary member of the Geographical Society, and suggesting to the Peruvian government the

Page 11 text:

.5-1-. 2'3 - ' Q f gf fave, g F1 3.,a'!'?'ff' ' ' 5' 'rf A - , SE 'Q ,fir VV 1' mm.. , AMHERST COLLEGE