ABSTRACTS 



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ASTRONOMY.— Catalogue of 23521 stars between 13° 35' and 45° 25' 

 south declination for the equinox 1850. From zone observations made 

 at the United States Naval Observatory 1846-1852. Compiled by 

 W. S. Eichelberger and F. B. Littell. Publications of the United 

 States Naval Observatory, Second Series, 7: Pp. XLVII + 558, 

 4°. 1911. 

 These observations were made in pursuance of an ambitious plan of 

 the first superintendent of the observatory for "a regular and systematic 



exploration of the whole heavens from 45° South with 



the intention of penetrating with the telescopes every point of space 

 from that parallel of Declination up to the North Pole, and of assigning 

 position to every star, down to the 10th magnitude." The plan was 

 much too large for execution by the force available at the Observatory 

 within any reasonable time, and after a desultory campaign extending 

 over about six years, it was apparently abandoned. During that time 

 the region of the sky from south declination 45° to south declination 

 10° was partially covered in an irregular way, some parts being covered 

 repeatedly, some once, and some not at all. 



Three instruments were used, the meridian circle, the mural circle 

 adapted for right ascension work as well as its usual declination work, 

 and the transit instrument adapted for declination work in addition to 

 its usual right ascension work. All the work was strictly zone work, 

 the instrument being clamped in a given position and stars being ob- 

 served as they passed through the field of the telescope. 



The journal publication of the bulk of the' zones has already been 

 issued. The first publication was issued in 1860 and contained the 

 results of the Meridian Circle Zones observed in 1846, compiled by Assist- 

 ant Astronomer James Ferguson. The completion of the reductions 

 of the other zones was turned over to Dr. B. A. Gould in 1861, and in 



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