146 RECOKD OF SCIENCE FOR 1886. 



the present be devoted to the piiblicatiou of observations already made, 

 an<l to effecting repairs in the buildings and instruments. A new 

 mounting for the 15-inch equatorial is required, and Professor Pickering 

 expresses the hope that at no distant day means may be found for re- 

 placing the present building by one better adaptetl to the requirements 

 of modern astronomy. 



The most important extension of the work of the observatory which 

 has recently been made is in the field of stellar photography. With the 

 aid from the Bache fund almost the entire visible sky has been photo- 

 graphed, and a large number of photographs of stellar spectra have 

 been obtained. For continuing the researches upon a stellar spectra 

 Mrs. Draper has lent the 11-inch photographic lens employed by her 

 husband, the late Dr. Henry Draper, and has provided means for a new 

 mounting at Cambridge, and for the proper reduction and publication 

 of the results. This investigation has been referred to under "Astro- 

 nomical photography.'' 



The 15-inch equatorial has been used for photometric observations, 

 observations of new comets, and of the new stars in Andromeda and 

 Orion, and for experiments in i)hotography. 



The work projected for the meridian circle is now completed, and 

 the reductions are being pushed as rapidly as possible. Volume 

 XV, part I, containing the annual results for the fundamental stars, 

 1870-'79, and the individual results, 1883-86, has been published ; it 

 includes also the results from the separate obsei-vations of stars belong- 

 ing to various special classes, and the catalogue of 1,213 stars, sepa- 

 rately issued in 1885. The second part of this volume will contain the 

 catalogue of zone stars. Volume xvi (published) contains a tabular 

 statement of the instrumental constants and a journal of the observa- 

 tions. A volume corresponding to volume xvi, but relating to the zone 

 stars instead of the fundamental stars, and another, containing the obser- 

 vations for absolute right ascension and declination made from 1879 to 

 1883, will complete the work of the meridftm circle still requiring publi- 

 cation. The resignation of Prof. William A. Eogers, who has had charge 

 of this instrument since it was mounted in 1870, is greatly to be re- 

 gretted. Professor Rogers has accepted the position of professor of 

 astronomy at Colby University, Waterville, Maine, but will, however, 

 superintend the reduction of his meridian observations and their publi- 

 cation. 



The meridian photometer. Professor Pickering states, has given en- 

 tire satisfaction, both in accuracy and in rapidity of work. (See Pho- 

 tometry.) A time-ball is dropped at the Boston post office, and the 

 telegraphic announcement of important discoveries has been continued 

 under the management of Mr. Ritchie. Tlie report concludes with a 

 list, embracing twenty two titles, of contributions to astronomical litera- 

 ture made by officers of the institution during the year. 



