536 OBSERVATIONS ON THE ZODIACAL LIGHT. 



No. 268. 



DECEMBER 23th, Isl54: M.JKNING. 



Lat. at 4A., 15 59' N. : Lon. 10(1 24' \V. 



Sun rose at 6A. 3Uwi. 

 I HA. 45'. of 25th. ~> 



Stronger Light at -J , u !^ ' > Diffuse 3A. tlm. aud 4A. '.' . 



U ' 30 " J 



Sun's Ion. 274 27'. 



For a notice of a simultaneous east and west Zodiacal Light on this occasion, ste evening record of the 

 25th. As there stated, I found, when the moon set at 11" 3(i n ', the eastern Zodiacal Light decidedly marked on the 

 sky ; its northern boundary easily made out, but the southern one not to be procured so as to be fully reliable ; but 

 I have done the best I could. Wishing to make certainty more certain, that this was the Zodiacal Light, I watched 

 it till 12" 3CP, and was again on deck at 1 o'clock. At the latter hour it had increased in brightness, and had seem- 

 ingly the same boundaries as at 11" 45'" and at midnight ; but it presented the same difficulties about the southern 

 boundary. A good exhibition of this simultaneous e ist and west Light seems to require that the ecliptic 

 should be at right angles with the horizon on both sides. That was the case a few nights ago ; but our rapid move- 

 ment southward has changed the angle considerably ; and, to-night, I did not find the midnight Zodiacal Light as 

 bright or well defined as on those recent occasions. I was glad, however, to have the observation, as the sky was 

 remarkably favorable, and, owing to the increase of the moon, I can expect no more such for some time. At 3 h and 

 4 h 30', the Light was remarkably bright: brightest at 4 b 30"', below the zigzag. 



