ASTRONOMY. 



By Prof. Edward S. Holden, 



Director of the Washburn Observatory, 



This record of astronomical progress during the year 1882 is in con- 

 tinuation of that of preceding years and is presented in the same form. 

 Abstracts of some of the most important papers of the year are given, 

 arranged under appropriate heads. To the professional astronomer 

 they may serve as a convenient collection of reviews and notes. But 

 their chief aim is to convej' to the large and increasing class of those 

 interested in astronomy, and having some acquaintance with it, an idea 

 of its annual progress. This object might be more directly attained by 

 writing a connected account of the year's work without referring to 

 separate papers. It is, however, conceived that the present plan really 

 serves its purpose better. 



While the progress of astronomy in general, as well as that of other 

 sciences, is even and sustained if viewed from a distance, yet this prog- 

 ress is really made by steps and irregularly. It is of value to be able 

 to follow these steps one by one. 



The writer has made free use of reviews which have appeared in 

 scientific periodicals, and especiallj- of abstracts which he has himself 

 written. 



NEBULA, ETC. 



Nebula in Orion. — The Naval Observatory has recently published a 

 monograph of the Central Parts of the Ii^ebula of Orion (quarto, 230 pp., 

 42 illustrations), by Professor Holden. 



Part I gives a history of the various researches on the nebula of Orion, 

 in chronological order, from Cysat, 1618, to the observations of the 

 author in 1882. With this are given 38 wood-cuts, which are engraved 

 from photographs of the principal published (and unpublished) draw- 

 ings. A very fine drawing of Lassell is here given for the first time. 



Part II (pp. 108-197) gives the observations made by Professor 

 Holden at Washington and Madison in the years 1874-1882. 



Part III is a summary of all the observations arranged for compar- 

 ison. 



Part IV gives the conclusions to be reached with regard to possible 

 variations in the shape or brilliancy of its parts. These are, in brief, 

 that there have certainly been changes in the relative brightness of some 



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