ASTRONOMY. 429 



the same design as the Strasburg instrument, having an object glass 

 of 6 inches aperture, witli collimators of the same size (these three ob- 

 jectives by Alvan Clark «& Sons) ; a 4-inch transit instrument by Fauth; 

 a 6-incli equatorial; a 4 inch comet-seeker by Clark; a 2-iuch Kepsold 

 vertical circle ; a photo-heliograph ; a measuring engine by iStackpole, 

 reading either rectangular or polar co-ordinates. There are live clocks, 

 by Dent, Frodsham, Hohwii, and Howard, and four chronometers by 

 Kegus. A system of electrical connections unites all the clocks and 

 observing rooms. A most wise provision is a workshop with a com- 

 plete outfit of tools and lathes. An extensive library is in process of 

 formation and has already necessitated an outlay of about $5,000. 



The contract for the object glass of the great refractor, which is to 

 have an aperture of 3G inches and a focal length of 60 feet, was placed 

 with the Messrs. Clark nearly five years ago. Two years later they re- 

 ceived from the glass-maker, M. Fell, of Paris, a disk of flint-glass of the 

 required perfection, and 38 inches in diameter. After repeated unsuc- 

 cessful attempts a satisfactory piece of crown-glass was cast in 1885, 

 and sent to the Clarks, and about October the work of figuring was 

 begun, and is now being pushed rapidly forward. The Clarks hope to 

 have the objective finished in the autumn of 1886. It has not yet been 

 decided, we believe, who is to make the elaborate mounting for the tel- 

 escope, or the dome of about 70 feet diameter, which is to cover it. 



''With regard to the prospective capabilities of the great telescope 

 when placed in so favorable an atmosphere, it is stated that it is not 

 unreasonable to suppose that on the best nights the maximum magnify- 

 iug power (about 3,500) may be advantageously employed. Making- 

 due allowance for the unfavorable effects of the earth's atmosphere, 

 the observer might, under these circumstances, expect to see the moon 

 much the same as he would without the telescope, if it were only 100 

 miles away. It might be possible then to makfe out details of objects, 

 even although they were no larger than some of the larger edifices on 

 the earth." 



Prof Edward S. Holden, director of the Washburn Observatory, Madi- 

 son, was appointed January 1, 1886, to the double position of director 

 of the Lick Observatory and president of the University of California, 

 to which latter institution the observatory when completed will be at- 

 tached. Professor Holden, as consulting astronomer, ha§ virtually had 

 the direction of the work for some time past, visiting Mount Hamilton 

 in 1881 and again in 1883 and 1884. 



The first volume of the publications of the Lick Observatory is now 

 in course of preparation, under the direction of the Lick trustees, byCapt. 

 Richard S. Floyd and Professor Holden. 



Liverpool Observatory. — Time-service and chronometer tests are con- 

 tinued as in previous years. The late Mr. John Hartnup was succeeded 

 as director by his son, who bears the same name. 



