ASTRONOMY. 59 



times, the mean of which gives latitude 40 0' 1.45", longitude 51 

 23 m 49.93" west of Washington. With Alt-azimuth Instrument I also 

 determined the latitude and longitude of Miami University, near 

 Cincinnati, in preparation for observation of the eclipse of July 29, 

 1878. Washington noon signals were received, and everything was 

 in most complete readiness , but final results failed by reason of the 

 cloudiness of the sky. 



Easton, Pa. : Lafayette College Observatory. 



Professor Selden J. Coffin, Director. 



This observatory was erected in 1865, and is used mainly for pur- 

 poses of instruction. It is of cut stone, sixty feet front including 

 the wings and fifty-six feet deep. The central room contains a 

 Reflector, made by Holcomb, of 10 inches aperture and 9 feet 6 inch- 

 es focal length, with Finder and Micrometer. It is mounted equa- 

 torially in a revolving dome sixteen feet in diameter, and commands 

 almost the entire horizon. 



In the wings are a Meridian Transit, Sidereal Clock, a 4-inch Port- 

 able Refractor, Sextant, Reflecting Circle, two Field Transits (by Stack- 

 pole & Gurley) for alt-azimuth use, Hough's Printing Barometer, a 

 Self -registering Anemograph, and other meteorological apparatus. 



The observatory is in latitude 40 41' 17" N. and longitude 75 

 12' W. The classes are practised in the use of all the instruments, 

 and in the determination of latitude, longitude, and time, and the 

 meridian line. A recitation-room in astronomy is attached, and is 

 provided with a fine series of charts and colored drawings of celes- 

 tial objects. 



Elizabeth, New Jersey : Private Observatory of Clias. W. Pleyer, 



Esq. 



In reply to your postal-card asking information about my Tele- 

 scope, I would say that it was made in 1873, by H. G. Fitz, ofPe- 

 conic, L. I. It has an object-glass of 6^ inches aperture and 90 inches 

 focal length, and is equatorially mounted, and has hour and declina- 

 tion circles. I have the usual assortment of Eye-pieces, diagonal 

 prism, and solar prism. I have also a small Transit Instrument,made 

 by John Bliss & Sons, of New York. 



My work for 1877 consisted chiefly of drawings of the surfaces of 

 Jupiter and Mars. 



Nothing has been attempted this year, owing to ill-health, making 

 exposure to night-air somewhat hazardous. 



My observatory is twelve feet square, wooden, with a peaked roof, 

 divided into four sections, which slide away. 



