Royal Astronomical Society. 



313 



and more narrow towards the nucleus. These bands were less 

 distinct, and not more than a single separation could be detected. 

 The nucleus appeared like a star of the fourth or fifth magnitude : 

 its light was pale, and it was surrounded by a luminous halo of no 

 great extent." 



Observations of the Comet made at the Observatory of Trevan- 

 drum, accompanied by a Drawing. By J. Caldecott, Esq., Director 

 of the Observatory. 



The observations were made with an achromatic telescope of 1\ 

 feet focal length and 5 inches aperture, made by Dollond for the 

 Observatory. It is mounted equatoreally on exactly the same plan 

 as Mr. Bishop's instrument, the ends of the polar axis (which is of 

 brass) being supported on pillars of granite. The micrometer made use 

 of is a reticulated diaphragm of gold wire. The instrument keeps its 

 adjustments very permanently, and the place of a known star (after 

 correction for collimation and index error) seldom differs more than 

 a second of time in right ascension, and 15" to 20' in declination. 



The right ascensions and declinations of the comet are those read 

 from the circles, after being corrected for instrumental errors, and 

 for the effects of refraction, the instrumental corrections having been 

 obtained almost every evening by observations of 6 Ceti, when at 

 nearly the same hour- angle as the comet was observed afterwards. 

 In addition, differential observations of small stars passing through 

 the field within a few minutes before or after the comet have been 

 obtained, and the results will be communicated after the places of 

 the stars have been determined by meridional observations. 



The following is Mr. Caldecott's account of the observations : — 



Places of the Comet. 

 Trevandrum Observatory, Lat. 8° 30' 32" N. ; Long. 5 h 7 m 59 s East. 



Notes. — The comet was first seen (partially only) on the 4th of March, 

 about half-past six p.m. ; but clouds over the head of it, which was besides 

 very near the horizon, prevented any observations. 



