COMET OF 1889-1896-1903 



247 



Table IX. 



Observation minus Computation. 



D. Definitive Correction to the Elements. 



24. The differential coefficients for the variation of the ele- 

 ments were computed ; the elements being referred to the mean 

 equator and equinox of 1896.0, and 1896 Oct. 23.5 being 

 the epoch for which the elements are osculating. Each normal 

 place is represented by two equations ; one in right ascension and 

 one in declination, the known terms in each being the difference 

 between observation and computation, as giv^en in Table IX. 

 There are, therefore, forty-eight equations in all, of which the 

 first twenty represent the first appearance, 1889-91, the next 

 twenty-four the second appearance, 1896-97, and the last four 

 the third appearance in 1903. In the group of equations which 

 represent each appearance tbe right ascension and the declination 

 equations are grouped together in subgroups, the right ascen- 

 sion group being given first in each case. In these equations 

 the coefficients are loefarithms. 



