242 



Account of a new Comet. 



a diminishing apparent velocity till it reached the eastern wing 

 of the Swan, where it disappeared toward the end of May. 

 The length of its tail never exceeded five degrees. 



Not having an observatory in which to fix the instruments 

 that would have given at once the right ascension and declina- 

 tion, I made a great many observations of its distance from 

 different stars during its progress. The following are those 

 which I have used in the calculation of the six elements of 

 the comet. 



March 19th, at 8 h. 45 m. 50 s. of true time, at Port Louis, 

 the distance of the comet from Canopus was 36 11' ; at 9 h. 

 2 m. its distance from a Centauri was 34 50'. 



April 1st, at 16 h. 48m. its distance from y. Centauri was 

 69 34'; at 17 h. 11 m. its distance from a Aquilse was 

 43 50'. 



April 15th, at 16 h. 25m. 5.0s. its distance from a Aquilae 

 was 21 50' ; at 16 h. 40 m. 50 s. its distance from a Centauri 

 was 97 39' 30". 



