464 Intelligence and Miscellaneous Articles, 



beams which are frequently seen at sun-set and other times ; that is, 

 of rays of light diverging : the upper part was broader than the lower, 

 evidently. The colour of the bow was much like that of the milky 

 way, and appeared so blended with it as not to be clearly distin- 

 guished from it when it (the arch) was fading away. From first to 

 last I think it was more than an hour that I observed this very extra- 

 ordinary appearance. 



Hale-End, Walthamstow, Essex, B. M. Forster. 



Nov. 24,1828. 



We are indebted to Mr. J. H. Matthiason, of Bedford, for a com- 

 munication on this subject ; in which it is stated that the belt, as 

 seen from Bedford, intersected the milky way in the S.W., at the 

 altitude of about 30°. The phenomena of the belt, as described by 

 Dr. Forster, at p. 389 of our last Number, agree in general, we are 

 informed, with those it presented to observers at Bedford. 



encke's comet. 



Between 7 and 8 o'clock in the evening of the 5th instant, a faint 

 nebulous circular spot was observed here with a Dollond's achroma- 

 tic telescope, about half a degree on the eastern side of the star 

 marked p in the constellation Pegasus, when it was on the meridian. 

 As there was a quick succession of attenuated cirrostratus clouds 

 passing over towards the N.W., nothing more could be done than to 

 determine its position, as a guide to future observations ; and from its 

 having no distinguished central light, some doubts were entertained 

 as to its being a comet. 



From the interposition of light clouds and mists, no favourable 

 opportunity offered again till the evening of the 1 1th, when the sky 

 became very clear and frosty ; yet the comet could not be found 

 till the moon had set, about 8 o'clock, when'it was observed on the 

 breast of Pegasus, or in right lines with y Pegasi and o Aquarii, and 

 a Pegasi and e Cygni, the intersection of which lines gave its posi- 

 tion. The comet was more luminous this evening than on the 

 former ; still it was a turbid coloured misty-looking circular light, 

 but sufficiently luminous to measure its diameter. When the moon 

 had set, its diameter was measured with a Dollond's divided object- 

 glass micrometer, by means of a small telescopic star situated at its 

 western edge, and the angle it subtended was nearly three minutes 

 of a degree. 



Nov. 12th. — The first part of this evening the atmosphere was very 

 hazy, but it cleared away soon after 6 o'clock $ and the comet was 

 again seen while it was bright moonlight, and was found to have ad- 

 vanced more than one degree from its position the preceding evening, 

 between two telescopic stars, with which it had formed an equilateral 

 triangle. 



Nov. 13th. — The sky was clear this evening till 7 o'clock, which 

 gave another opportunity of seeing the comet on the meridian ; but 

 as the moon is approaching it, it is with difficulty seen with the tele- 

 scope. Its Right Ascension this evening was 22 h 5 m 30% or 331° 

 22' 30" j and its Declination 19° 17' north. 



Nov. 14th. 



