ASTRONOMY. VMS 



tiou of light of V Cygni witL the Zolliier photometer {Observatory, No. 

 104, p. 435), and also has observed some other stars, the variability 

 of which has been suspected. Hasselberg's spectroscopic researches 

 have been limited to the chemical elements, nitrogen and hydrogen, 

 which, however, are not yet finished. Photographs of the sun have 

 been regularly taken throughout the year, for which work gelatine 

 plates have been found specially conveneint. During the year 220 

 photographs have been obtained on 173 days. Eeferring to the work 

 carried on at the Marine Observatory at Nicolajew, M. Struve remarks 

 that the director has found at Batum an extraordinary deviation of the 

 plumb-line, amounting to 49"*6 in longitude=37"-l of a great circle in 

 the direction of the prime vertical. In latitude the deviation is 16". 

 That no volume of Pulkowa observations has been published during 

 the year is owing chiefly to the long illness and multitudinous occupa- 

 tions of the director. The following volumes, however, are in active 

 preparation : Volume viii, which contains the star catalogue compiled 

 from the meridian observations, 1839 to 18G9; volume x, containing 

 the continuation of O. Struve's measures of double stars; volume xii, 

 containing the fundamental determinations of E. A. for 1865.0; and 

 volumes xiii and xiv, containing the fundamental determinations of 

 declination for the same epoch. The work of the geographical and 

 geodetical bureau, under Dollen's superintendence, has also been carried 

 on as usual during the year." (Observatory.) 



RadcUffe Observatory, Oxford. — With the transit circle 3,500 observa- 

 tions of transits have been made, and 3,440 circle observations. The 

 volume for 1882 has been printed ; that for 1883 is nearly ready for 

 press ; the observations for 1884 are completely reduced ; those for 1885 

 are nearly reduced to the end of the year. 



Rome. — A new observatory is being built under the direction of Father 

 Ferrari, S. J., formerly assistant, and successor of Father Secchi, in the 

 observatory of the Roman College. The observatory is now in posses- 

 sion of a 4-inch equatorial by Merz, and is to have a 10-inch by the 

 same maker. {Sid. Mess., 4 : 313.) 



Rosse {Earl of), Birr Castle, Parsonstown. — Attention has been given 

 to photometry and the measurement of lunar heat. The driving-clock 

 of the 6-foot reflector is now run bj^ water power. 



San Jose, Cal. — The recently completed observatory for the Univer- 

 sity of the Pacific, at San Jos6, has a 6-inch Clark equatorial, and a 

 Fauth transit instrument. The dome is 12 feet in diameter inside, 

 covered with galvanized iron, and requires 15 pounds to turn it. The 

 building and instruments are the gift of Capt. Charles Goodall, of San 

 Francisco, and Daniel Jacks, of Monterey. The observatory is under 

 the charge of Prof. J. C. George. 



Smith Observatory. — We are very glad to learn that the reported clos- 

 ing of the Smith Observatory of Beloit College on account of lack of 



