ABSTRACTS . 



Authors of scientific papers are requested to see that abstracts, preferably 

 prepared and signed by themselves, are forwarded promptly to the editors. 

 The abstracts should conform in length and general style to those appearing 

 in this issue. 



GEODESY. — Lambert projection tables for the United States. Oscar S. 



Adams. U. S. Coast and Geodetic Survey Spec. Pub. No. 52. 



Pp. 243, including 33 pp. of text. 1918. 

 This publication consists of general tables of coordinates for the 

 United States, computed on the Lambert conformal conic projection, 

 with two standard parallels. The coordinates are given in both meters 

 and yards for the intersections of the parallels and meridians at every 

 half degree in both latitude and longitude. Detail tables for local 

 maps in both meters and yards are given in coordinates for the inter- 

 section of the parallels and meridians at intervals of 5 minutes in both 

 latitude and longitude; and for two degrees out from a central meridian. 

 The introductory text includes a mathematical development of the 

 formulas of the projection, followed by a full description of the use 

 of the tables in the construction of projections. Eleven diagrams serve 

 to illustrate the manner in which the tables should be used in construct- 

 ng a map of any section. As a whole, this publication contains the 

 most complete set of tables of the Lambert projection ever issued for 

 any region as extensive as that of the United States. For the con- 

 struction of a general map of the United States the system is about the 

 best that can be devised, O. S. A. 



SPECTROSCOPY. — The application of dicyanin to stellar spectroscopy. 

 P. W. Merrill. Bur. Stand. Sci. Paper No. 318. Pp. 18. 1918. 

 This paper describes the use of commercial photographic plates 

 sensitized with dicyanin in stellar spectroscopy. The first observations 

 were carried out at the Harvard College Observatory using the 24-inch 

 reflecting telescope and objective prism. Fraunhofer's A band (wave 

 length 0.760 fx) and a considerable region of greater wave length were 

 photographed in numeious stellar spectra. Several new absorption 



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