254 



POOR 



normal made up of observations from Denver and Mt. Hamilton 

 will place the comet at some point between these limits accord- 

 ing as to whether the Mt. Hamilton or Denver observations 

 predominate. The six normals which show large residuals in 

 the above solution depend to a large extent (20 to 30 per cent.) 

 upon Denver and Cordoba observations; the five normals 

 which show small residuals of different signs, do not contain a 

 single observation from either of these two observatories. Thus 

 it is safe to conclude that the large residuals are due to syste- 

 matic errors made by the different observers. 



It would not be difficult to determine the personal equation 

 of each observer and to correct the individual observations for 

 such errors, and to reduce all the observations to a standard 

 system, but such a proceeding would have the effect of reducing 

 the residuals without changing the elements. 



The large residuals of the third appearance are accounted 

 for by the fact that the comet was extremely difficult to observe 

 and the fact that the observations upon which the normal places 

 rest are discordant among themselves ; the different observa- 

 tions varying several seconds. 



26. Applying the above determined corrections to Elements 

 in, I have as my definitive elements the following : 



1903.0 



