Sir J. Herschel on Bevision of the Southern Constellations. 225 



Feb. 9 - 17 +18-2 



11 +17-9 — 1-3 



12 +16-9 + 4-7 

 March 3 - 1-6 — 4-6 



And for the latter and more accurate observations, — 



both sets of errors in right ascension and in declination being ex- 

 pressed in seconds of space. Now that I am preparing the Ephe- 

 meris for 1 845, it would be highly important for me to compare the 

 whole of the observations of 1842, especially those of the Cape of 

 Good Hope. Up to the present time I have received no communi- 

 cation concerning them. Should the results of these observations 

 be known to you, I should be much obliged if you would do me the 

 favour to communicate them. 



"The present remarkable comet we have seen up to the 13th of 

 February, but we shall probably be able to follow it still further. 



" The last observations were, — 



R.A. Declination, 



hms o I II o I II 



Feb. 7 7 15 34 80 39 57-8 + 6 10 519 



10 10 59 8 81 22 21-5 6 31 54-9 



13 7 40 6 82 3 54-6 + 6 51 428 



V. Occultations of Fixed Stars by the Moon, observed at Ham- 

 burg. By C. Rumker, Esq. Communicated by Dr. Lee, See 

 Monthly Notices, vol. vi. No. 5. 



VI. Further Remarks on the Revision of the Southern Constella- 

 tions. By Sir J. F. W. Herschel, Bart.* 



The idea originally proposed of entirely remodelling the south- 

 ern constellations, has (after very mature consideration and much 

 discussion, and after consulting the opinions of some of the most 

 eminent continental astronomers, which have been found very adverse 

 to the idea of so decided a change) been laid aside ; at least in so 

 far as regards the new catalogue of stars, now printing under the 

 authority of the British Association. It is conceived, however, that 

 if the nomenclature of the constellations, generally, be ever destined 

 to undergo a systematic change at all (and many reasons may be ad- 

 duced for considering such a change desirable), the first and most 

 important step towards it will be found in the work above alluded 

 to, and in the catalogues now publishing simultaneously with it on 

 the same system of nomenclature, which clear the ground of all ex- 

 isting confusion ; and, by assembling into one distinct view, and 

 under names and numbers at least definite and recognised, all the 



[* An abstract of Sir John Herschel's former paper on this subject will 

 be found in Phil. Mag. S. 3. vol. xix. p. 582.] 



P;«7. Mag, S. 3. Vol. 25. No. 165. Sept. 1844. Q 



