26 ANNUAL RECORD OF SCIENCE AND INDUSTRY. 



of water. Mr. Nasraytli long ago illustrated the bright 

 streaks on the moon by the following striking experiment. 

 A glass globe is filled with water, and, being hermetically 

 sealed, is plunged into warm water. The inclosed water ex- 

 panding at a greater rate than the glass, exerts a disruptive 

 force on the interior surface of the latter, the consequence be- 

 ing that at the point of least resistance the globe is rent by 

 a large number of cracks diverging in every direction from 

 the focus of disruption, presenting an .appearance strikingly 

 similar to the rays that radiate from Tycho. 12 A, 1873, 

 IX., 358. 



ROTATION OF THE PLANETS. 



Professor Peirce has attempted to deduce from the nebu- 

 lar hypothesis an explanation of the actual rotation of the 

 planets on their axes ; and reasoning especially with regard 

 to Jupiter and Saturn, he shows that the inner portion of the 

 ring thrown oft' from the rotating central body must have a 

 less velocity than the outer portion, and consequently there 

 must be a breaking up of the ring, and the formation of plan- 

 etary bodies. He demonstrates by a mathematical analysis 

 of the movements of the particles constituting the liquid ring 

 that the velocity of the resulting rotation must be such as is 

 actually observed. Pr. Nat. Acad, N. Y. Tribune, October, 

 31,1873. 



newcomb's tables of the moox. 



With reference to Professor Newcomb's investigation of 

 the moon's motion, the superintendent of the Naval Observa- 

 tory reports that the work has been nearly accomplished and 

 prepared for the press, according to the original plan ; but on 

 examining certain terms troublesome to calculate, which it 

 was supposed were entirely unimportant, it was found that 

 the work could not be properly completed without them. 

 The preparations for observing the transit of Venus have in- 

 terfered with the development of these important terms. The 

 second part of the work (namely, the tables founded upon 

 Professor Newcomb's theory) has been carried as far as it 

 can be without the data that will be attainable as soon as 

 the preparations for observing the transit of Venus are com- 

 pleted. Report Sec. Navy, 1873. 



