ASTRONOMY AND METEOROLOGY. 



NEW PLANETS DISCOVERED DURING THE YEAR 1854. 



The number of planetary bodies belonging to the Solar System has been 

 increased during the year 1854 by the discovery of six new asteroids. 



The 27th asteroidal planet, discovered by Mr. Hind, of London, on the 

 evening of November 8, 1853, has received the name of Euterpe. The 

 28th asteroidal planet was discovered on the evening of the 1st of March, 

 1854, by Mr. Luther, director of the Observatory at Bilk, Germany. This 

 planet has received from Mr. Encke the name of Bellona, and resembles 

 a star of the 10th magnitude. 



The 29th asteroid was discovered on the morning of the 2d of March, 

 1854, at the Regent's Park Observatory, in London, by Mr. Albert Marsh. 

 It also has the appearance of a star of the 10th magnitude, and has received 

 the name of Amphitrite. This planet was discovered independently by 

 M. Chacornac, assistant observer at the Observatory of Paris. He also, on 

 the 4th of February, at Marseilles, noted a star of the 10th magnitude, 

 which is now wanting in that place, and which is shown to have been the 

 body first recognized as a planet by Mr. Marsh. 



The 30th asteroid was discovered on the 22d of July, by Mr. Hind, at 

 Mr. Bishop's Observatory, Regent's Park, London. It has the appear- 

 ance of a star of the 9th-10th magnitude, and has received the name of 

 Urania. 



On the night of the 2d of September, Mr. James Ferguson, assistant 

 astronomer of the National Observatory, Washington, discovered the 31st 

 asteroidal planet in the field of the telescope at the same time with the 

 13th, Egeria. " The priority of this discovery," says Lieut. Maury, in his 

 official report, " belongs to the National Observatory ; and this new star is 

 added to the family of asteroids as the first representative of America 

 among them, and a memorial of her zeal in the cause of astronomy. As a 

 testimony of the high approbation in which the talents and the industry of 

 Mr. Ferguson are held, the honor of naming this planet was left to him. 

 Following the rule adopted by astronomers with regard to the asteroids, 

 he has selected the graceful name of Euphrosyne." 



