REPORTS OF AMERICAN OBSERVATORIES. 



In the latter part of August, 1879, the following circular was sent to 

 all known public and private observatories in America: 



[circular.] 



Smithsonian Institution, 



Washington, D. C. 



My Bear Sir : It is desired, to present in the annual report of this in- 

 stitution a yearly summary of the state and progress of astronomy in the 

 United States and elsewhere. To this end it is requested that the di- 

 rectors of observatories, public and private, will return this circular, with 

 the blanks filled out and with such additional information as they may 

 deem suitable for publication. 



It is intended that one such circular shall reach every observatory, 

 public or private, in the United States; if any have been omitted it has 

 been by inadvertence, and notice of such ommissions is desired by the 

 editor (Prof. Edward S. Holden, U. S. Naval Observatory, Washing- 

 mgton, D. C). 



It is proposed to continue the summaries in the future, and it is hoped 

 that the directors of the various institutions will desire to furnish from 

 year to year brief sketches of the activity of the observatories under their 

 charge. In this way a record of current astronomical work will be kept 

 up, which otherwise it is difficult to maintain in the absence of any Amer- 

 ican periodical specially devoted to astronomy. 



Very truly yours, 



SPENCER F. BAIRB, 



Secretary Smithsonian Institution. 

 To . 



Replies to this circular have been received as below up to September 

 15, 1879. They are here arranged in the alphabetic order by towns. 



Location of observatory: (City) Allegheny; (County) Allegheny; 

 (State) Pennsylvania. 

 Name of observatory : Allegheny Observatory. 



Longitude from Washington, ll m 50 3 .81 W. 

 Latitude, 40° 37' 47".G N. 



I. Personnel: 

 Director, S. P. Langley; Assistant, F. W. Very. 



