A. MATHEMATICS AND ASTRONOMY. 25 



astronomical knowledge to be connected with the observa- 

 tions of Dr. Huggins upon the proper motions of the stars, 

 and the questions associated with the phenomena, of the com- 

 ets. He also refers, as very noteworthy, to the relationships 

 established between the solar spots and the planetary con- 

 figuration, terrestrial magnetism and auroral phenomena. 

 He remarks that the connection between the amount of heat 

 proceeding from the sun and the prevalence of spots has 

 been established by the researches of Piazzi Smyth, Stone, 

 and Abbe, and that from the researches of Mr. Meldrum 

 there appears to be a periodicity of cyclones in the Indian 

 Ocean corresponding to the sun-spot periodicity. The pe- 

 riodic changes of Jupiter's appearance seem also to be rela- 

 ted to the changes of the sun-spots, all tending to show the 

 importance of a critical study of 4his feature of the sun's 

 disk. For this reason Mr. De La Rue urges very strongly 

 the multiplication of photographic and spectroscopic obser- 

 vations of the sun, and anticipates, as the result, a much 

 more thorough appreciation of the relationships between the 

 great luminary and its attendant satellites. 12 A, August 

 15,1872,316. 



SITE FOR AN ASTRONOMICAL STATION. 



According to the San Francisco Bulletin, Professor David- 

 son, who, it is said, has been making examinations in Califor- 

 nia for the purpose of determining a suitable site for an as- 

 tronomical station, has fixed upon a point situated about 

 half a mile from Summit station, which is 7042 feet above 

 the sea level, and the highest point on the Central Pacific 

 Railroad. Castle Peak, seven miles from the summit, w r as 

 also examined, but its atmosphere was found to be quite 

 hazy, and the ascent to it too difficult to render it a desira- 

 ble place for permanent occupation. San Francisco Bulle- 

 tin, August 30, 1872. 



NEW REFLECTING TELESCOPE AT EDINBURGH. 



During the last year an appropriation of $11,500 was made 

 by the British government for the purpose of supplying a 

 new equatorial telescope to the Royal Observatory at Edin- 

 burgh, and the instrument is now being built by Mr. How- 

 ard Grubb, of Dublin. It is to be a reflector of a somewhat 



B 



