The annual report of the Astronomical Observatory by Professor E. C. Pickering will be issued today. The report shows, that, although the income from the Observatory fund in the last twenty-five years has increased from less than $20,000 to $50,000, and the number of assistants from six to forty, thus placing the Observatory in these respects among the largest in the world, further endowments are greatly needed for the erection of permanent buildings. Two gifts of considerable amounts, both anonymous, have been received during the year: one of $20,000, quite free from conditions, the other of $70,000, of which $10,000 is now available, for any astronomical work, whether undertaken at the Harvard Observatory or elsewhere.

Besides a large number of observations made with the East Equatorial and the meridian circle instruments both in Cambridge and at the station in Peru, observations have been made along new and unique lines of work with the Henry Draper Memorial instruments. First, the spectra of large numbers of stars have been photographed simultaneously, with the result that large numbers of objects having peculiar spectra have been discovered. Secondly, stellar spectra, six inches long, and showing several hundred lines, have been obtained, demonstrating that large numbers of stars have identical spectra. Thirdly, photographs of the entire sky have been taken night after night, which, with the photographs taken in previous years, furninsh a complete history of the heavens since 1890, and a partial history since 1886.

At the station in Arequipa, Peru, 3,919 photographs have been obtained by Professor Bailey with the 13-inch Boyden telescope. The meridian photometer has also been sent to Peru, for the observation of the Planet Eros. With the Bruce Photographic telescope, 6,174 plates have been exposed, including a large number of exposures of asteroids, several of which are probably new. One of these asteroids has a greater eccentricity than any one hitherto known, and has been named Odlo, after the Peruvian goddess. A photograph of Eros was obtained nearly a month before it was observed elsewhere after its conjunction with the sun.

The work at the Blue Hill Observatory, under the direction of Mr. Rotch, has been for the most part in the nature of determinations, day and night, of the atmospheric refraction above land and water, Commencing in December, 1901, kite flights were made on a fixed day each month in co-operation with simultaneous ascensions of balloons and kites in Europe.

Professor Pickering's report deals also with recent additions to the Astronomical Library; telegraphic announcements from all parts of the world; a new system of time service devised by Mr. Gerrish; the means of protection from fire at the Observatory, which are, it seems, but scant; the installation of steam heat in the west wing of the Observatory and a list of the year's publications.