HARDWICKE'S SCIENCE-GOSSIP. 



277 



But whatever changes we are obliged to make, let 

 us make them as soon as possible, since every time 

 an error appears in print, it becomes more difficult 

 of correction, and more confusing to future genera- 

 tions. 



T. D. A. COCKERELL. 



West Cliff', Colorado. 



ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 

 By John Browning, F.R.A.S. 



THE Astronomical Society of France had a very 

 interesting meeting on the 3rd of October, with 

 Mr. Flammarion in the chair as president. 



A description and drawing of the great Solar spot 

 of November the 12th, to the 25th, 1882, was com- 

 municated by M. Ricco, of Palermo. This was 

 the largest spot ever observed, its area being more 

 than fifty times as great as the area of the earth's 

 orbit. A drawing of the lunar crater, Eratosthenes, 

 was communicated by Mons. Gaudibert, which showed 

 twelve hills in the ring, and a considerable number of 

 small craters on the eastern side. 



Mr. Isaac Roberts has contrived an admirably 

 efficient method of engraving the stars of astrono- 

 mical photographs in copper plates, so as to retain 

 the accuracy of the original negatives. Mr. Roberts' 

 stellar photographs are said to equal any produced in 

 France. 



It is stated that the President of the University of 

 Southern California, Los Angeles, has applied to the 

 firm of Clark's respecting their ability to construct a 

 refractor forty inches in diameter. The discs for the 

 28-inch Greenwich refractor are completed. 



Government has, it is said, accepted Earl Craw- 

 ford's offer to present his valuable instruments now at 

 Dun Echt to the nation, and the Treasury will furnish 

 the recpiisite funds for the erection of suitable 

 buildings to contain them, near Edinburgh. 



In December Mercury will be an evening star in the 

 first half of the month. 



Venus will be an evening star throughout the 

 month. 



Mars will be an evening star during the whole 

 month. 



December 3rd, Mars will be at the least distance 

 from the Sun, 6 hrs. aft. 



December 20th, Mercury will be at the greatest 

 distance from the Sun. 



December 31st, the earth will be at the least 

 distance from the Sun. 



Meteorology. — At the Royal Observatory, Green- 

 wich, the lowest reading of the barometer for the 

 week ending 20th October, was 29*82 in. at the 

 beginning of the week, and the highest 30*23 in. at 

 the end of the week. The mean temperature of the 

 air was 43*5 deg., and 7*5 deg. below the average. 

 The direction of the wind was variable. No rain was 



Rising, Southing, and Setting of the Principal Planets 

 at intervals of Seven Days in November. 



measured during the week. The duration of regis- 

 tered bright sunshine in the week was 24*5 hours, 

 against 35 '2 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. 



For the week ending 27th October, the highest 

 reading of the barometer was 30*28 in. on Monday 

 morning, and the lowest 29*80 in. on Thursday 

 afternoon. The mean temperature of the air was 

 49*2 deg., and 0*2 deg. below the average. The 

 general direction of the wind was S.W. No rain was 

 measured during the week. The duration of regis- 

 tered bright sunshine in the week was 25 * 5 hours, 

 against 23*6 hours at Glynde Place, Lewes. 



For the week ending 3rd November, the highest 

 reading of the barometer was 30* 12 in. at the begin- 

 ning of the week, and the lowest 29*23 in. on Friday- 

 morning. The mean temperature of the air was 50*3 

 deg., and 3*0 deg. above the average. The general 

 direction of the wind was S.W. Rain fell on six days 

 of the week, to the aggregate amount of 2*68 in. 

 The duration of registered bright sunshine in the 

 week was 3*8 hours, against 4*0 hours at Glynde 

 Place, Lewes. 



For the week ending 10th November, the lowest 

 reading of the barometer was 29*56 in. at the begin- 

 ning of the week, and the highest 29*71 in. on 

 Saturday morning. The mean temperature of the 

 air was 42* I deg., and 2*6 deg. below the average. 

 The general direction of the wind was easterly. 



