388 SCIENTIFIC KECORD FOR 1885. 



Comet 1886. . . (Barnakd) : 

 = Comet e 1885. 

 = Banard's Comet. 



This coDiet, the second discovered by 

 Barnard during the year, was foundin the 

 constellation Taurus on December 3, 1885. 

 It is described by Tempel, on December 10, as somewhat brighter than 

 Fabry's comet, small, about equal to a nebula of class II, with a star- 

 like center. Elements and ephemeris thus far published show that the 

 comet is increasing in brightness, and that it does not reach perihelion 

 till May, 1886. Dr. Opjjenheim's ephemeris places the maximum bril- 

 liancy about May 25, nearly 400 times as bright as at discovery; but 

 its proximity to the sun at this time will detract considerably from its 

 splendor. 



Periodic comets due in 1886. — Of the now somewhat numerous list of 

 comets of short period, two will be due at perihelion in the ensuing 

 year: (1) The comet Tempel-Swift, or 1869 III, and 1880 IV, which is 

 likely to return tinder circumstances that will render observations im- 

 practicable, so far at least as a judgment can be formed without actual 

 calculation of the perturbations ; (2) Winnecke's comet, last observed 

 in 1875, its track in the heavens near the perihelion passage in Decem- 

 ber, 1880, not allowing of the comet being seen at that return ; the per- 

 turbations may be very sensible during the present revolution ; neglect- 

 ing their effect, the mean motion determined by Professor Oppolzer for 

 1880 would bring the comet to perihelion again about August 24-5 

 - - - The actual orbit of Winnecke's comet approaches very near 

 to that of the planet Jupiter in heliocentric longitude 110°, at which 

 point the comet arrives seven hundred and twenty days, or 1-97 years, 

 before perihelion passage; the distance between the two orbits is then 

 less than 0-06 of the earth's mean distance from the sun. 



It is very possible, however, that the comet which may most interest 

 astronomers in 1886 will be that observed in 1815, and known as Gi- 

 bers' comet, which, according to the elaborate calculations of Dr. Gin- 

 zel, will again arrive at perihelion in December, 1886. The most i)rob- 

 able date that can be inferred from the observations of 1815, and the 

 computation of i)lanetary i)erturbations in the interval, is December 

 16, but unfortunately the observations did not suffice to determine the 

 mean motion in 1815 with precision, and consequently Ginzel found for 

 the limits of the period of revolution 72-33 and 75-68 years; hence the 

 comet may reach its perihelion many months earlier or later than the 

 date given by calculation. 



Extensive sweeping ephemerides have been i^ublished, and it may 

 not be too soon to direct attention to a search for the comet at the be- 

 ginning of the next year, or as soon as the region in which its orbit is 

 projected at the time can be advantageously examined. {Nature, Octo- 

 ber 29, 1885.) 



METEORS, AND THE ZODIACAL LIGHT. 



Meteor shower of Norcmhcr'll^ 1885. — On the evening of November 27 

 there was a remarkable shower of meteofs radiating from Andromeda, 



