Approximately 102 photographs, 1910s-c.1930

MOUNT WILSON PHOTOGRAPHY ARCHIVE – Extensive series of original photographs from Mount Wilson Observatory. [Los Angeles, California: Carnegie Institution, 1910s-c.1930.]

Spectacular series of photographs from one of the most famous observatories in the world and the birthplace of solar physics. The Snow Solar Telescope (named for Helen Snow) arrived at Mount Wilson in 1904 and the first work to clarify the nature of sunspots soon began. The sunspot record has been drawn every sunny day at Mount Wilson since 4 January 1917. Includes:

1. Nine photographs of the sun showing sunspots
2. Nine detail photographs of sunspots
3. 14 photographs of solar flares
4. 55 photographs of galaxies and nebulae
5. Three photographs of comets
6. Approximately 12 photographs of spectrograms, distant stars, etc., of a more technical nature

Together, approximately 102 original photographs, various sizes, mostly about 7 x 9 inches, many with multiple images per print; each mounted to detached album leaves of black paper, apparently all deriving from the same album.