280 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 1882. 



Zone observations. — In Bessel's southern zones (-f- 15° to —15°) and 

 northern zones ( + 15° to +45°) there are 75,011 observations of G2,000 

 stars. The actual time spent in observing was 868 hours, 18 minutes, 

 so that on the average a star was observed every 41^.7, or at the rate of 

 83.64 stars per hour. Two observers participated, Bessel and Arge- 

 lander. In Argelander's northern zones ( + 45° to +80°) there were 

 26,424 observations of 22,000 stars. The actual time required was about 

 320 hours, and an observation was made every 43*.6 on the average, or 

 at the rate of 82.56 per hour. In Argelander's southern zones ( — 15° to 

 —31°) there were 23,250 observations of 17,600 stars. The time employed 

 was about 281 hours. On the average an observation consumed 43*.5, 

 or the rate was 82.75 stars per hour. In Argelander's, as in Bessel's 

 zones, two observers participated. 



In the Washington zones (1846-'49) only one observer was employed 

 at each instrument. The rates are as follows: Meridian Circle Zones, 

 1846, 4,137 observations were made in 178^ 19™, or at the rate of 

 23.20 per hour; Meridian Circle Zones, 1847, 1848, and 1849, 7,388 ob- 

 servations were made in 227^ 30™, or 32.52 per hour; Transit Zones, 

 1846-'49, 12,029 observations were made in 395** 55™, or at the rate 

 of 30.37 stars per hour; Mural Circle Zones, 1840-'49. 14,792 observa- 

 tions were made in 500^ 27™, or at the rate of 29.55 stars per hour. 

 It thus appears that two observers working together will do one-third 

 more work than working separately. 



At the Strusburg meeting of the German Astronomical Society (Sep- 

 tember, 1881) reports were made of the progress of the zone observa- 

 tions as usual. These are epitomized as below : 



Kasan: Observatory: Zone 80°-75°. This zone is nearly finished. 



Dorpat : Zone 75°-70°. All the declinations are reduced to 1875.0 and 

 the observations of R. A. partly reduced. The zone is almost completed. 



Christiania : Zone 70°-65°. This zone is also nearly completed. 



Helsingfors-Gotha : Zone 65°-55°. The observations are done and 

 are now being printed. 



Camhridge (U. S.) : Zone 55°-50°. The observations were completed 

 in January, 1870, and required 033 nights for about 20,000 observations. 

 The reductions will be finished in 1882. 



Bonn : Zone 50°-40°. The final catalogue is complete as far as 3^. 



Lund: Zone 40°-35°. The observations will be finished in 1882. 



Leyden : Zone 35°-30°. The zones are printed, and the definitive 

 catalogue is in preparation. 



Cambridge {^ug\?iu<\): Zone 30°-25°. Eight hundred and twenty- 

 eight stars are yet to be observed. 



Berlin : Zone 25°-20°. This zone is observed by Dr. Becker, and 

 80 per cent, of the observations are made. 



Berlin : Zone 20°-15°. This zone is observed by Dr. Auwers, and is 

 nearly completed. 



Leipsic : Zone 15°-5°. The zone 15°-10° has been completed for some 



