RKrORTS OF ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES. (J35 



1'40: one made by :\Ierz & Sox, of IMunieli; aperture of ol.Jeeiive, 7.^ 

 inches ; magnifying powers of eye-i)ieces, 80 to lOlS. This instrument 

 is furnished with a micrometer, reflecting prisms, and sun-shades. It is 

 driven by ck)ckworli;. The hour circle is 10 inches in dianu'ter. It is 

 graduated on silver to snigle minutes, and reads by two verniers to 

 •4 seconds of time. The declination circle is 15 inches iu diameter. It 

 is graduated ou silver to 10 miiuites, and reads by two vermers to 10 

 seconds of arc. The tinder was made by Al ntan Clakk & Sons, of Cam- 

 bridgeport, Mass. It has an aperture of 1 ; inches and a focal length of 

 17i^ inches. 



{(/) Clods: one mean tiuw; maker, lliGcs, of riiiladelphia : one 

 sidereal; makers, GrecKt & Eurr, of Xew York. 



{i) MisccUaneoiis : The instrumental equipment includes also a sex- 

 tant made by E. & G. W. Blunt, of New York; the arc is graduated 

 ou silver, and reads by a vernier and microscope to 10 seconds. An 

 alt-azimuth instrument, made by E. & (r. W. Blunt; it has an aper- 

 ture of 2J inches; the circles are 12 inches in diameter, and graduated 

 to 10 minutes ; the horizontal circle has four verniers with microscopes 

 and the vertical circle two, aud ea<,*h reads to 10 seconds. A Transit 

 theodolite, made by GREGa & Eupp, of New York. 

 Observations during the past year: 



{{() The meridian circle has been used for time observations only. 



(c) ((?') Uquatorial: Observations on II artwig's comet; observations 

 ou Swift's comet. 



Work proposed for the coming year (1881): 



1. The ordinary work of instruction to classes in astronomy. 



2. Observatious for time. 



3. Observatious ou such new planets aud comets as may be announced. 

 During February and March, 1880, the old observatory building, Avhich 



stood a few feet west of the main university editice, was moved and en- 

 larged. It now stands on the beautiful emiuence iu the campus near the 

 chalybeate spring. The meridian line of each pier now passes between 

 the university building and the president's mansion. In this position a 

 good horizon is secured. In the old ])Osition the horizon was obstructed 

 ou the north by the scientitic building, and on the east by the university 

 building. 



The old dome was found to be too small for the equatorial recently pur- 

 chased, and a brick addition was made at the east end for the accom- 

 modation of this instrument. Tlie whole l»uildiug is (>,', feet long from 

 east to west, and fronts east. 



The present greatly improved coiulitiou of the Observatory is due to 

 the liberality of the president, Dr. S. S. Laws, who, for the advance- 

 ment of astronomical science, has given to the university more than 

 $2,000 in order to procure the telescope and put it in complete working 

 order, and to move aud enlarge the observatory building. 



