REPORTS OF ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES. 0')! 



(/*) Chronometers : ouc pocket chronometer, lucaii tiinc; liy .loiiNsoN, 

 London: one sidereal; by Poole, London, inii>ro\\'d hy Neiius, New- 

 York. 



{i) MiHcellaneous : Two bifilaV position-micrometers, one by Dollond, 

 the other by Fauth & Co., Washington, D. C; a patent sextant and 

 a patent retiecting circle, by Pistor & Martins, Berlin; repeating 

 relays, sounders, &c., for time service. Yale Collegia has also in use a 

 5-inch 10-foot refractor by Dollond; a sidereal clock and a L'O-inch 

 transit instrument, in charge of Professor LooMis. 



The horological bureau is a department of the Winchester Observa- 

 tory, organized in January, 1880, with a special ecpiipment of instru- 

 ments for a regular and extended public time service. The standard 

 time, by law of the State, is that of the meridian of the city hall, N«'w 

 York, which is 4"^ 19^0 sloWof New Haven, and 12- 10^5 fast of Wash- 

 ington. Another important work of the bureau is the testing of watches 

 and chronometers in the interest of the watch manufacture, for which 

 hot and cold closets and other special tacilities are provided. 



There is also connected with the Observatory a thermometrical bureau, 

 in charo-e of Dr. Wai.do, for the verification of clinical and other ther- 

 mometers. It is amply furnished with the best standards, apparatus ot 

 comparison, and other tacilities for this work. About 1,000 tlunMuo.ne- 

 ters have been tested in the last six months. 



A Eepsold & Sons, of Hambur^i^, are constructing for the Observa- 

 tory a heliometer of 6 inches aperture and embodying the latest unprove- 

 ments. It is to be finished during the year 1881. 



Observations during the past year (1880): 

 (a) Besides the regular time-service and the thermometric work, a 

 series of observations has been made, with interchange ol the observ- 

 ers, for determining telegraphically the difference of longitude between 

 Cambridge and New Haven, the observers being Prof. \MlliamA. 

 EOGERS, of Cambridge, and Br. Waldo, of New Haven. ^^^ 

 Work proposed for tue coming year (1881-'82): 

 The regular time and thermometric service, and the erection ot a 

 building for the heliometer, ^ith preparation for observing the approach- 

 ing transit of Venus, and for other work ^vith this instrument. 



Nbwington, Hartfonl County, Connecticut. 

 Frirate Ohserratory. 

 Longitude from Washington, 21>" 25^ E. 



house, Coast Survey. 



Director: U. W. Edgecomb. 



