ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETIES AND ASTRONOMERS. 815 



Astronomische Gesellschaft, which, although less important than 

 the elder society, has organized and brought to a successful con- 

 clusion some important astronomical labors. It has an interna- 

 tional character ; and one of its principal aims is to establish 

 among the astronomers of all countries, by meetings every two 

 years in some city of Europe, bonds of friendship and scientific 

 confraternity. 



In the General List of Observatories and Astronomers, of As- 

 tronomical Societies and Reviews,* of which M. Lancaster has just 

 published a third edition, a special chapter is given to Astronomi- 

 cal Societies. We extract from it the facts that follow relative to 

 the foundation and organization of societies created in later years. 

 A society was founded at Chicago in 1862 for the purpose of fur- 

 nishing the observatory by the purchase of instruments, the pay- 

 ment of honorariums to astronomers, etc. with the means of car- 

 rying on its work. Associations of spectroscopists and observers 

 of luminous meteors were formed in Italy in 1871, for the publi- 

 cation of special works. A society was founded in Liverpool in 

 1882, the principal object of which was to cultivate the taste of 

 amateurs for astronomical observations. A special amateur di- 

 rects the observatory of the society, and verifies by its instru- 

 ments the observations made by the members, assists his col- 

 leagues in their researches, and carries on special work in the 

 name of the society. The American Astronomical Society was 

 founded in 1887, and the Astronomical Society of the Pacific in 

 1889. The latter society, at the end of the first eighteen months 

 of its existence, had three hundred members and possessed two 

 funds ; one for a medal to be awarded to discoverers of new com- 

 ets, and another for the purchase of an astronomical library. Pop. 

 ular scientific societies have been formed in France since 1864, at 

 Paris, Argentan, Marseilles, Lyons, Nantes, and Narbonne to 

 which each member brings his quota of work and intelligence. 

 The Astronomical Society of Paris has been able, through the 

 popularizing talent and indefatigable zeal of its director, M. J. 

 Vinot, to create two hundred and one minor observatories, and 

 to establish a circulating library of more than four thousand 

 volumes. 



The Astronomical Society of France, which hopes to rival the 

 great societies of England and America, was founded under the 



* Liste generate des observatoires et des astronomes, des societes et des revues astrono- 

 miques, preparee par A. Lancaster, bibliothecaire de l'observatoire royal deBruselles. This 

 collection, the several editions of which demonstrate its success and usefulness, includes a 

 list of official and private observatories ; astronomical societies ; various institutions ; astro- 

 nomical reviews and journals ; an alphabetical list, with addresses, of independent and am- 

 ateur astronomers ; and makers of instruments. Published by F. Hayez, printer to the 

 Royal Academy, rue de Louvain 108, Bruxelles. 



