xviii GENERAL SUMMARY OF SCIENTIFIC AND 



such concerted and sj'Stematically carried-ont schemes of observa- 

 tion is now very great, and extends to all branches of the subject, 

 from the spectroscopic observations of solar phenomena to the me- 

 ridian observations of asteroids at Greenwich and Paris, and similar 

 work elsewhere. While the present instruments are utilized, new 

 observatories are being founded ; and, in particular, many large tel- 

 escopes are building or newly completed. The history of astronomy 

 has been well exemplified in the interesting Loan Collection at South 

 Kensington ; and the republication of the works of Bessel and oth- 

 ers is of more than passing imj^ortance, and it is to be hoped that 

 these may lead to a collection of the works of the elder Herschel, 

 which is so much needed. Discoveries of new minor planets have 

 ceased to be the novelty they were in 1801, owing to the assiduity 

 of astronomers. The intra-Mercurial planet has so far not been 

 detected, although patiently sought for. With this brief jireface, 

 we may proceed to a systematic though condensed view of the 

 work of the present year, 



NEW OBSERVATORIES FOUNDED, ETC, 



The new Astrophysilcalisclieii Institut of Potsdam, under the charge 

 of Sporer, is still in process of building, as well as the Physical Ob- 

 servatory at Paris, under Janssen, IVIouchez has established a school 

 of Practical Astronomy and an observatory at Montsouris. The 

 new National Observatory of Austro-Hungary at Vienna, an insti- 

 tution of the first class, is to be completed in 1877. The Savilian 

 Observatory for Celestial Physics at Oxford has also commenced its 

 operations. An observatory for spectroscopic observations of the 

 sun has been founded at Calcutta, The Observatory of Lisbon is to 

 undertake photographic researches. 



Little has been done toward the carrying out of the provisions of 

 Mr. Lick's trust for the erection of an astronomical observatory in 

 California. It is to be hoped that this valuable gift to Astronomy 

 will soon begin to yield results. The observatory at Glasgow, Mis- 

 souri, is completed and partially equipped, and has begun work by 

 a series of observations on Saturn's satellites. One of the most im- 

 portant steps of the year has been in the division of labor adopted 

 among the Italian observatories. 



The Royal Observatory at Greenwich has seriously entered into a 

 new field, that of celestial physics, SjDectroscopic and jDh olographic 

 work is constantly done. The observatory at Melbourne has received 

 considerable accessions to its instrumental outfit, and is making im- 

 portant contributions to the astronomy of the southern hemisphere 

 in several fields. 



The National Observatory at Paris has mounted its four-foot re- 

 flector during the year. The mounting is said to be satisfactory, but 

 the mirror is not yet in perfect condition, and the glass for a new 



