8 BARNARD— PHOTOGRAPHIC OBSERVATIONS [April 25, 



angle of south ray 257°.o. Position angle of north ray 27o°.o; not 

 extreme north ray. 



Yerkes. — Position of head 1855.0 6'' 7^.10 -|- 17° 23'. Position 

 angle of south ray 259°.o; assuming center of head as origin. Po- 

 sition angle of north ray 269°.o; assuming center of head as origin. 



On a number of mornings I carefully examined the comet with 

 the 40-inch telescope and its 4-inch finder. In the great telescope 

 the view was not satisfactory because of the very small field — 5^' 

 of arc. It showed the nucleus, however, and part of the head very 

 well. The view in the finder was very much more satisfactory, but 

 even this was a disappointment. The nucleus and head and part of 

 the tail were very beautiful. The soft nebulous light of the comet 

 with the bright yellowish star-like nucleus imbedded in the head 

 made a very striking picture. But there were no details visible in 

 either the head or the tail. The streamers which were shown on 

 the photographs at about the same time could not be seen. Viewing 

 the comet thus and then afterwards seeing the photograph of it, 

 impressed one greatly with the value of photography in dealing with 

 these objects. I think most of the phenomena of this comet would 

 have passed away unknown had it not been for the photographic 

 plate. 



Notes on the Appearance of the Comet with the Naked Eye, 



WITH the 5-INCH Guiding Telescope and with the 



40-INCH and its 4-1NCH Finder. 



July 75. — The comet was visible to the naked eye as a hazy star 

 of the fourth magnitude. It was decidedly brighter than the An- 

 dromeda nebula, but much smaller. It was -J magnitude brighter 

 than the star 3° east of it, BD + 9° 316 (1855.0 2^ 17™ 3'.o + 9° 

 57' -9 5™-?)- While guiding it seemed to fade for short intervals — 

 perhaps this was due to thin patches of clouds, though I could not 

 see any clouds. 



July 77. — Bright to naked eye. It was 3^ magnitude. Very 

 much like a considerable hazy star. Could faintly see a very slender 

 tail for 5°± which passed several faint stars 4° from the head. 

 The comet was ^ magnitude or more brighter than the fourth mag- 



