376 SCIENTIFIC RECORD FOR 18S3. 



which the report refers. The eDtire number of observations upon which 

 the Taris General Catalogue will be founded is about 330,000. The po- 

 sitions are referred to three principal epochs : 1845.0 for the years 1837- 

 '53; 1800.0 for the years 1854-'G7, and 1875.0 for the years 18G8-82. A 

 specimen of the form in which it is intended to print the catalogue is 

 appended to the report. The right ascensions and declinations are given 

 for each principal epoch, with the number and mean year of the obser- 

 vations. The precessions are reckoned from the year 1875, with the 

 term depending upon the square of the time. Tbe magnitudes and the 

 differences from the positions of the Eistoire Celeste are annexed, and 

 where a star has not been observed by Lalande a synonym in some other 

 catalogue is given. In the first column we have the ordinal number, aud 

 in the second the star's number in the reduced catalogue of the Eutoire 

 Celeste. It is mentioned in the report that M. Bossert had undertaken 

 a new determination of the places of the stars in that work, making use 

 of the reduction tables of the late Dr. von Asten, which are more ex- 

 act than the tables of Hansen and Nissen, employed for the catalogue 

 published in 1847. M. Bossert has already effected the reduction of 2,300 

 stars, a voluntary labor which has occupied his leisure hours. It would 

 add to the value of the columns, showing the differences between the 

 new Paris positions and those of Lalande, if the comparisons could be 

 made with places resulting from the application of von Asten's tables, 

 though it might be necessary to supplement M. Bossert's laudable ef- 

 forts. In the last Greenwich Catalogue (1872) the precessions are given 

 to four places of decimals in right ascension (time), and to three places 

 in north polar distance ; the Paris Catalogue gives these quantities with 

 a figure less, which we are inclined to regard as a retrograde step. 



This General Catalogue of the Observatory of Paris is to comprise two 

 parts, which will be published simultaneously; the first part forming 

 the catalogue proper, and the second containing details of the observa- 

 tions upon which the mean positions are founded. Each part will be 

 composed of four volumes; the first volume of each is intended to ap- 

 pear during the year 1884. — (Nature, June 21, 1883.) 



Tiie revision of BesseFs Zones. — From a review by Dr. Schonfeld of 

 vol. 37 (part I) of the Kbnigsberg Observations (published in 1882 by 

 Dr. Luther), the following abstract is made : It appears that it was Bes- 

 sel's intention to prepare a special volume on the Kbnigsberg Zone 

 Observations ( — 15° to + 45°). This he was never able to carry out, 

 but his introductions and remarks on the Berlin Star Charts, and the 

 paper of Winnecke (Ast. N~ach., 11GS), having showed the importance of 

 a new reduction, the Berlin Academy undertook the expense connected 

 with the plan, and Dr. Luther and Dr. Ruppel of the Kbnigsberg Ob- 

 servatory commenced the work, the first part of which is now printed. 



Pages 1-181 of the work contaiu a list of about 1,300 zone stars in 

 which some correction has seemed to be needed. The positions depend 



