580 REPORTS OF EUROPEAN OBSERVATORIES. 



the observatory permit, but it would be desirable to have them replaced 

 by the new and improved ones now in course of construction. 



Publications. — The "Annales de 1' Observatoire " have been divided 

 into 2 sections, the "Annales Astronomiques" and the "Annales Met6- 

 orologiques." The first volume of "Annales Astronomiques" contains 

 "Uranometrie Generale" and a compilation under the title, "Eeper- 

 toire des Constants de l'Astronomie." The second volume contains the 

 observations with the meridian instrument and with the mural circle, dur- 

 ing the years 1873, 1874, 1875 ; physical observations of Mars during the 

 opposition of 1877, accompanied by chromo-lithographed plates. 



The first volume of the "Annales Meteorologiques," about to appear, 

 contains meteorological and magnetic observations made in 187G and 

 1877. 



"L'Annuaire" for 1879, and the catalogue of astronomical and mete- 

 orological books in the principal libraries of Belgium, have been pub- 

 lished. 



A law was passed on the 29th of March, 1877, directing the publica- 

 tion of a magnetic chart of the country. Observations for this purpose 

 were taken on inclination, declination, and intensity, and the computa- 

 tions of the same are now in a well-advanced state. 



DUSSELDORF OBSERVATORY. 

 (Dr. Robert Luther, Director.) 



The isolation and strength of the old brick pillar carrying the 7-foot 

 instrument, weighing 975 pounds, having become doubtful, a new pillar 

 of basalt lava, resting on a foundation of brick, laid in cement, was 

 erected. A satisfactory proof of the stability of this new pillar has been 

 offered in the recent severe shocks of earthquake, which did not change 

 its isolation. 



The fruitless searching for (118) Peitho and other not much observed 

 planets, and the alarming increase (now about 38) in the number of 

 minor planets observed in only one opposition, induces me to make the 

 request that the observers maybe assisted in future to -overcome the 

 difficulties of finding them again by more exact opposition-ephemerides 

 and by the publication of several hundred special charts on the scale of 

 the Paris charts. 



In addition to the observations made for correction of instruments and 

 time, 41 observations were made on 23 planets. Since 1847, 897 observa- 

 tions were made on 112 planets. 



PRIVATE OBSERVATORY OF DR. EPSTEIN, FRANKFORT-ON-THE-MAIN. 



The work of continuing ITerschel's sweeps, undertaken in September, 

 1877, and reported upon last year, has been continued. In addition to 

 the 219 fields, 2G4 fields were swept and 5,831 stars counted. The pres- 

 ent state of the work is 483 fields and 13,500 stars. Observations were 



