X x vi GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



Newcomb, has shown, with a very high degree of probability, 

 that the Greenwich and Washington observations combine 

 to demonstrate the non-existence of any short period in the 

 sun's diameter. 



The solar parallax has been determined anew by Galle, 

 from observations of Flora. His preliminary result is 8.86", 

 or identical with the values that within the past few years 

 have been adopted as the best. 



In reference to spectroscopic observations of the sun, Stone, 

 at the Cape of Good Hope, has observed during the recent 

 solar eclipse the reversion of all the principal Fraunhofer 

 lines at the immediate edge of the sun, and on the other hand 

 he saw them distinctly in the spectrum of the corona. 



Mr. Ranyard calls attention to the fact that the photo- 

 graphs of the total eclipse of 1871, although taken at differ- 

 ent stations, present appearances showing that there was 

 then between the earth and the sun a semi-transparent body, 

 possibly the nucleus of a comet hitherto undiscovered. 



Concerning the nature of the solar spots, Messrs. Wilson 

 and Seabroke advance the theory that the sun is a series 

 of strata of liquids, whose densities, boiling-points, and press- 

 ures are so adjusted as to be in very unstable equilibrium. 

 Langley finds right and left handed whirls and even vertical 

 currents within the penumbra of a spot. Faye continues to 

 maintain his theory of the depression of solar spots due to 

 downward currents; while Sporer adduces what must be 

 considered as equally good evidence of the existence of cur- 

 rents of rising gases above the spots, which are, he thinks, 

 the hottest portions of the sun's surface. Lohse, carrying 

 out the same theory, concludes that there must exist a very 

 appreciable amount of refraction in the solar atmosphere. 

 Secchi has attempted a new determination of the solar tem- 

 perature. Professor Airy announces that at Greenwich Ob- 

 servatory photographs of the sun will be made daily, 

 at least until some other institution offers to take up the 

 work. 



The Moon. In connection with the doubt expressed a year 

 ago by the Astronomer Royal as to the accuracy of the lu- 

 nar tables, we record the announcement by Mr. Lewis, of 

 Mount Vernon, Ohio, that he has undertaken to compute in 

 detail the eclipses recorded in the ancient Chinese annals. 



