ON THE PLANET CERES. 289 



quadrant, and a circle of two feet from Cary ; the telefcopes 

 have little aperture, fo that I cannot fee the new planet Ceres, 

 and confequently I cannot obferve the zenith diftances : as the 

 air all January was very hazy and cold, I had much ado to fee 

 the planet in my very excellent tranfit inftrument. I muft 

 therefore wait till the planet (hall increafe in brightnefs, 

 which yet will not go farther than to a flar of the feventh 

 magnitude. In the mean time I hope that by very clear 

 weather I may diftinguifh the planet in my old quadrant, or 

 in my little circle, and that this faint body will fupport the il- 

 luminating of wires, which has not been the cafe hitherto. 

 This is the reafon that I could not obtain one exaft declina- 

 tion, but my right afcenfions of Ceres are extremely exacl. 

 This difficulty will certainly never take place in my obferva- 

 tory when I once get your four feet circle. * * * * * * * 

 M As foon as the inftruments arrive, I mall give you notice 

 of it : in the mean while I have the honour to fubfcribe my- 

 felf, with the greateft regard and highefl efteem, which the 

 reigning Duke of Saxe Gotha very fincerely (hares with me. 

 Molt honoured Friend, 



Your mod obedient Servant, 

 And devoted Friend, 



Francis Baron de Zach, 

 Lieutenant- Colonel, and Director of 

 Seeberg Obfervatory. 



" Before I flniflied this letter, I had two obfervations moreLateft obferva- 

 ©f the new planet Ceres, viz. tlons * 



Rt. Afc. Ceres. Decl. Ceres. 



28 Jan. I6 h 3' 29" M. T. 188° 31' 37,85" 12° 9' 41,3" 



tolerably well at the quadrant. 



29 15 59 43,7 188 34 18,13 12 y 14' 



only gueffed." 



This extract affords me an opportunity of illuftrating the Application of 

 account, which has been juit given, of the application of two J he , inftru<£ \' on£ 



" . J fc> » . . before detailed, 



diltant obfervations of a planet for determining the heliocentric to the obfrrva- 

 arc that has been run through in a given time : if I take the tions on Ccrc *» 

 right afcenfion of Ceres for the lft of Jan. 1801, as given by 

 Vol. I.— April, 1S02. U Piazzas 



