Show Astronomers Hoping to Discover New Nev Principle of Nature i I Great Telescope May l Solve Their Problem By ROBERT D. D POTTER I T ITHER astronomers are i EITHER soon to discover some new hitherto unrecognized principle of nature or else telescopes such as the inch diameter instrument of Mt VIt Wilson Tilson observatory observatory observatory ob ob- ob- ob are now looking about to the limits of the uni uni- verse This is the choice which Dr Edwin Hubble Mt Wilson observatory's noted astronomer extends to his fellow fellow fel- fel low ow scientists As soon as the new inch telescope being erected on Mt Palomar California is in operation operation operation oper oper- and studies on the light from the most distant nebulae are made with it astronomy may have the answer answer answer an an- to its present quandary Expanding Universe Theory The trouble is with the present theory theory theory the the- ory of the expanding universe which accounts nicely for the shifting of the light from distant nebulae toward oward the red end of the spectrum The expanding universe theory one recalls pictures some tremendous explosion on in ages past which sent out matter that is still expanding Just as the whistle of a train goes to o a lower pitch as it rushes away from Torn the observer so too in the optical optical optical op op- op- op case case does the light from a nebula rushing away from the observer observer observer ob ob- ob- ob server go to a lower pitch which in the case of light means a shift toward the red end of the spectrum The trouble with this interpretation of the shift red is that it leaves one with a universe that is small closed and dense a universe whose outer limit is but little more than the he present seeing limits of existing telescopes Astronomers Not Satisfied Frankly astronomers admit that they hey have yet no alternative theory which fits the observed facts so satisfactorily satisfactorily sat- sat but many of them cannot help feeling that they are not now looking to the limits of space or anywhere anywhere anywhere any any- where near it and that the present region they observe is probably only a small part of a far vaster space Alternative solution is to avoid calling calking the shift red evidence of an expanding universe and to visualize visualize visualize alize one that is static and far vaster in n both age and volume But before before be- be fore ore that can be done some scientist scientist scientist will have to discover recognize and interpret the new principle I of nature Like a careful mountain mountain mountain moun moun- tain climber scientists do not jump jumpoff off a tried time-tried safe ledge of knowledge until they have a better one |