The past month holds the low record for observing time for the month of December and with the exception of February, 1924, the lowest of any month. Only 32.9 hours observing time was secured on 7 nights, when 29 plates were obtained. The average for eleven-years for the month is 63.4 hours on 10 nights with 72 plates secured.
Taking the year as a whole, however, it has been one of the best. The totals are 226 nights, 1486.6 hours as compared with the eleven-year average of 207 nights and 1286.6 hours.
The local meteorological station states that the year had been the driest and sunniest year since 1875. The precipitation was 10 inches below the average of 27.4 inches.
Director J. S. Plaskett returned December 4 from the East. Administrative duties, correspondence, etc. Working up paper on the so-called K-term in stellar velocities to present at American Association for the Advancement of Science. Left to that meeting on December 23rd.
Assistant Director W. E. Harper worked 4 nights obtaining 26 plates. Measured for radial velocity 40 plates. Silvered secondary mirror. Prepared and gave two public addresses and one seminar talk. Preparation of a paper on Astronomical Research in 1929. Some administrative duties.
[One of Harper’s public addresses was titled “Observatories and Their Uses”, which he delivered on December 3, 1929, Ed.]
Wed, Dec 4, 1929 – 7 · Times Colonist (Victoria, British Columbia, Canada) · Newspapers.com
Astronomer J. A. Pearce measured 9 plates for radial velocity. Prepared table of stars showing Interstellar calcium lines. Gave on seminar talk and one address before Astronomical Society.
Astronomer C. S. Beals observed 1 nights obtaining 1 plate. Spent most of month working at spectrophotometry of the oxygen spectrum. Made a spectrographic analysis of neon advertising sign for British American Paint Co.
Astronomer R. O. Redman worked 2 nights obtaining 2 plates. Measures 9 spectra and thus brought measurement o K programme up to date. Commenced calculations with data from this programme. In preparation for these read work by Stromberg, Oort, Russell, etc. Gave 1 seminar talk
Computer S. N. Hill prepared B-type catalogue for publication. Computational and related work on B-type stars.Investigation of binary star HD 185936 and measurement of 10 spectra of same.
Clerk-Stenographer Miss L. M. Blake handled correspondence, accounts, reports, envelopes for spectra. Typing of addresses for meeting of AAAS, RASC meeting and newspaper articles in connection with same; seminar talks; table of stars showing interstellar calcium lines; Volume IV Numbers 16 and 17
Astronomical Assistant T. T, Hutchison assisted in observing on 6 nights. Kept telescope in working order.