Star Gazing (1946)

[Music] [Music] [Music] bless my soul I don't see why I keep you around here of all the numbs SC here look I found it Senor Galileo galile his Eminence a Grand Duke of that's not it you idiot that was written more than two years ago one can find a new star in the heavens sooner than find anything after you've had your hands upon it but I never touched any of these things you told me never to I told you nothing of the sort we've got to get a new system around here don't sit there with your mouth open looking at me find the letter you're stupid mind what you're doing you'll tear my gown gentlemen good evening Lardo get some chairs for the gentlemen Senor Galilei we are of the Senate indeed from the Senate you say won't you be seated I understand that men of science are very methodical your method of filing your papers is unique to say the least oh it's a very excellent system I put everything I have on this table therefore when I want anything it must be here but I can never find it Senor G I have the honor and the pleasure to inform you that in recognition of your services to science the Senate has awarded you the chair of science at the University of Padua my my thanks to the Senate the position carries a salary of 1,000 florens a year for Life 1,000 florens for life do you know what this means to me with that spy glass I have mapped the heavens chartered the cses of the planets with this money I will build a real telescope it shall be as long as a cannon as big around as a wine cask it will weigh more than a come [Music] and this might be the very telescope of which Galileo dreamed indeed it is a direct descendant of the tiny spy glass he invented and with which in 1610 he discovered four satellites of Jupiter almost three centuries elapsed before scientists using this 36-in refracting telescope at the Lick Observatory of the University of California discovered a fifth satellite since then four more have been discovered three of them with this telescope nearby why we find Dr Path making observations with the 12-in refractor with his stopwatch and photoelectric cell he is measuring the light of distant Stars applying these and other calculations science is striving for an accurate method of making long range weather forecasts when they succeed we shall know far in advance of the coming of droughts and floods excessive heat and cold and their calamitous results may be largely avoided in this building at the foot of the giant t telescope lies the body of James lck who made this Priceless gift to the people of California and all the world in the Peaceful Valley at the foot of this winding road is the University of Santa Clara and on its campus we find the beautiful Observatory dedicated to the memory of Father Ricard the Beloved Padre of the rains this solar telescope was used by father Ricard in making his weather forecasts these sunspots are in reality huge gases disturbances on the solar surface and often cover an area 50,000 M across over six times the diameter of the earth we find it a bit foggy as we cross San Francisco Bay passing under the new bridge but the natives assure us this is most unusual in nearby Berkeley is one of the most unique observatories in the world here in his own backyard Mr George tman utilizing scrap sheet iron junked Auto Parts and other odd fragments has constructed a 22-in reflecting telescope probably the largest ever built by an amateur astronomer with his ingenious but thoroughly practical instrument the Builder has made many interesting observations this is the cell formed from an old disc wheel held in place by the rim of a port hole from some long forgotten ship the mirror was ground from the port hole glass Mr tman an able mechanic has a well equipped Workshop in which he spends much of his time Goodbye Mr touman amateur astronomer we're off to Southern California as we fly above the shores of the Pacific the waves form a lacy border of Ever Changing pattern Rocky Headlands and Sandy Shores soon give way to rugged mountain peaks as we near the Mount Wilson Observatory of the Carnegie Institute of Washington within this 750 ton Dome is the 100 in hooker reflector this is the world's largest telescope with its Aid photographs are taken of nebuli as distant as 500 million light years strangely no direct observations are ever made with the eye Mr Alfred Joy is photographing a star using the spectrograph to spread Starlight into colors from the photograph the composition and temperature of the star may be determined from these towers daily observations are made of solar aspects each morning The Observer goes aoft to adjust the mirrors the elevator is an improvised Miner bucket as it rises a magnificent Panorama is [Music] unfolded to the West lies grip of Park Planetarium in this imposing edifice astronomy is reduced to simple terms readily understood and appreciated by the hundreds of visitors who daily pass through its doors historical murals Adorn the interior of the Dome from which is suspended the F called pendulum the rotation of this fixed dial beneath the pendulum proves that the Earth does move [Music] [Applause] [Music] astronomy goes forward at an Ever quickening Pace at Pasadena in the California Institute of Technology work is progressing on the new 200 in telescope and when the new reflector is completed man's visible universe will be double its present size today the world heaps honor upon the scientists such men as Dr Robert a milikan are justly awarded Universal Acclaim and what was the reward bestowed upon Galileo for his contribution to science 300 years agoo Galilee you have been found guilty and the decree of this court is as follows you shall renounce the heresy of your teachings you shall repeat the seven penitential Psalms each day you are to be a former prisoner of this office for the remainder of your life do you recant I do do you curse and despise your crime in teaching that the Earth moves and that the sun is the center of the universe do you I do [Music] n [Music]