Htjlory of AJlronomy for the Year 1800. lOf 



(eftabliflied amuraeum, a cabinet of philofophical inftruments, 

 jand an obfervatory, with profeflbrs. Dr. Olbershas been 

 appointed profclTor of adronomy. 



At Lilicnthal^ M. Von Zach was aftonifhed at the im- 

 menfe number of inftruments in the poffeffion of M. Schroe- 

 ter. One of his telefcopes is 27 feet in length ; but he has 

 another of 13 feet, which is perbaps the bed in the world ; 

 it produces effe6ls that have aftonifhed one of our ableft ob- 

 fervers. M. Schrqster's gardener, who is a man of great 

 ingenuity, cafts fpecula, and polidies them with wonderful 

 flexterity. His telefcopes of 7 fpet will bear to be compared 

 with thofe of Herfchel. He has cftablifncd a very extraor- 

 (Jinary manufadtory, where aftronomers may be fupplied witli 

 a fpeculum of 4 feet focue, and a fmall plain fpcculum, at the 

 price of 120 francs; an4 9- f[)cculum of 15 feet focus for 

 700 francs. Xbis is not the tenth part of what was 

 ufually demanded for fuch articles at London and at Paris. 

 M. Schroeter has made obfervations of Mercury, the rota- 

 tion of which he believes to be 24 h. 5^ On this fubjecl 

 he intends publifliing hermographic fragments. In regard 

 to aftronomy, he has a privileged iight; he can di{lin2;ui{h 

 Mercury in the open day by the naked eye ; he has fcveral 

 times feen in his telefcope fmall ftars (liooting along like a 

 delicate ftreak of very faint light, which lafted 2 or 3 ; this 

 proves that the hydrogen and oxygen of the atmoiphere ex- 

 tend to the diftance of feveral leagues : meteors or globes of 

 fire, which excite aftonifluiient when at the diftance of a few- 

 hundred fathoms, become {liooting liars when at the diftance 

 of a league, and telcfcopic ftars at three or four leagues. 



Prince Adolphus, the tenth child of his Britannic majefty, 

 aged 27, who is very ftudious and well informed, contributes 

 towards the peculiar protection granted by his father to aftro- 

 nomy in the electorate of Hanover; he paid a vi fit at the 

 fame time as M. Von Zach to the obfervatory of Lilienthal, 

 iVI. Harding has been appointed alliftant to M. Schroeter, 

 with a falary frgm the king. 



M. Von Zach every where found zeal for aftronomy, and 

 he every where contributed to increafe it : details on this 

 fubjeCt may be feen iri the excellent journal which he pub- 



lilhes 



