THE OBSERVATORIES OF ITALY. 543 



planets, and the principal stars, and can even observe stars down 

 to the tenth magnitude by means of a peculiar device for bright 



wires. 



Observatory of Milan : Director, M. Schiaparelli ; Astronomer, 

 M. Celoria. The Milan Observatory is one of the most ancient of 

 Italy, its foundation in the Brera Palace having been established in 

 1760. Among its directors have been the celebrated astronomers Bos- 

 covich, Oriani^, Cesaris, and Carlini. The Ephemeris of Milan has long 

 been distinguished for its accuracy, and for the memoirs published in 

 connection with it by Oriani, Cesaris, and Schiaparelli. The obser- 

 vatory contains two halls, one for the equatorial and one for the me- 

 ridian-circle. The equatorial, by Merz, was mounted in February, 

 1875. It has an aperture of 218 millimetres (8.58 inches), and a focal 

 length of 3.20 metres (125.99 inches), and its objective is of such an 

 excellence that a magnifying power of 700 diameters is habitually 

 used. It is to be devoted to a reobservation of Struve's double stars. 

 The meridian circle is by Starke, and has an aperture of four inches 

 and a focal length of five feet. 



Observatory of Turin : Director, M. Dorna ; Assistant, M. Char- 

 rier. The present observatory of Turin was constructed in 1820, and 

 until 3 864 it was under the direction of the illustrious Plana; since 

 that time it has formed part of the university, and is under the charge 

 of the Professor of Astronomy. Its instruments are : 1. A meridian- 

 circle by Reichenbach, with a circle one metre (39.37 inches) in diam- 

 eter, and a telescope by Fraunhofer, twelve centimetres (4.74 inches) 

 in diameter. This excellent instrument is used for observations of the 

 sun and stars for the determination of the time, which is given to the 

 city by means of a time-ball. 2. A comet-seeker of twelve cen- 

 timetres (4.74 inches) aperture and eighty-two centimetres (32.28 

 inches) focal length, mounted in a small dome. 3. A repeating circle^ 

 by Ertel, used for purposes of instruction. 4. An equatorial of 117 

 millimetres (4.61 niches) aperture and 1.82 metres (71.65 inches) 

 focus, which will be used by Dr. Cliarrier for spectroscopic observa- 

 tions of the solar protuberances. A larger equatorial is soon to re- 

 place this. 



In terminating these short notes I must formulate in a few words 

 the reflections which my visit to so many institutions has suggested 

 to me. The simple enumeration of the instruments would ill suffice 

 to judge of their importance. It is not sufiieient that an observatory 

 should be provided with numerous or powerful instruments : it is fur- 

 ther necessary that these instruments should be at, the service of ac- 

 complished astronomers earnest in the pursuit of their studies, and 

 having no other desire than to achieve a name in science. In all these 

 respects the observatories of Italy leave the most satisfactory impres- 

 sion upon the visitor. Thanks to ibis universal ardor, no moment is 



