65G REPORTS OF ASTRONOMICAL OBSERVATORIES. 



]\Iay 1, 3, 11 ; September 12, largest group for many years, equal to ^ of 

 the sun's diameter ; October 3, 'and December 4. Drawings were made 

 of tlie most remarkable spots. 



Hartwig's comet was observed on October 2, the evening of tlie day 

 of announcement; also on October 3, 4, 5, C, 7, S, 9, and 10. On 3d 

 instant it was in the same field with Alphecca. Swift's comet was 

 observed November 5 and 26, December 4. Owing to dense clouds 

 Pennule's or Pechiile's comet was not seen until December 31, when 

 it was quickly picked up with 2-inch achromatic in E. A, 19^ 59™ 

 X. Dec. 19° 23'. It was also seen January 1, 1881 ; January 2, 19, and 20. 



Preparations were made to observe the occultation of Mars, March 17, 

 but clouds prevented ; also the partial eclipse of sun December 31, but 

 observations were again frustrated by clouds. 



Work proposed for the coming year (1881) : 



Mainly comet seeking; solar phenomena and the planets will also 

 receive attention. 



Additional ikformatcon: 



Descriptive articles on Hartwig's, Swift's, and Peohl'le's comets of 

 1880, also remarkable solar spots, have been published in one or more 

 of the following papers : " Scientific American," " Science Observer," 

 "Science," ''Eochester Democrat and Chronicle," " Geneva Courier," 

 '' Phelps Citizen." 



Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. 



Central High- School Observatory. 



Longitude from Washington, 7°^ 33^G4 E. 

 Latitude, 39° 57' 7".5 N. 

 Director: f 



Poughkeepsie, Dutchess County, New YorJi. 



Vassar College Observatory. . 



Longitude from Washington, 12"" 38«.5 E. 

 Latitude 41° 41' 18" N. 

 Director : Maria Mitchell. 

 Observatory built in 1878. 



Instru:ments : 



(a) Meridian circle: maker, YouNG, of Philadelphia ; aperture of ob- 

 jective, 3| inches. 



(c) Equatorial instrument : object-glass by Clark ; aperture of ob- 

 jective, 12J inches; magnifying powers of eye-pieces, 200 to 600+ . 



(/) Chronograph: one. 



