PROGKKSS OF ASTRONOMY J'OH IS!tl AND JS!)2. 739 



maim, piiiitiii,u' observiitioiis of lucteors and of variable stars; Astro- 

 iiomisclie Gesellscbaft, construction of tables for tlic coniijutation of 

 the absolute perturbations of the asteroids by Gyldcns method; Inter- 

 national (leodetic Commission, dispatch of a party to the Sandwich 

 Islands for a study of the variations of latitude; ]Mr. II. H. Turner, 

 computation of tables for reductions of star places; Prof. K. S. Ilolden, 

 reduction of meridian observations of Struve stars; Prof. H. A, Row- 

 land, identification of metals in the solar spectrum; Dr. L. StruAe, 

 reduction of the occultations observed during the eclipse «»f January 

 28, 1888. 



It may not be out of i)lace here to note that a Ici^acy of 1()<>,000 

 francs ($20,000) has been left by an old lady of Pan to the Institute of 

 France, as a reward for the i)erson of any nationality who shall, within 

 the next ten years, succeed in communicatin<;' with the inh.altitants of 

 some other celestial body. Apropos of this le<>a(;y, Flamniarion has 

 written an interesting artich^ in L'x^stronomie as to the jtossibility of 

 onr ever being able to a(;complish communication m ith our neighbors. 



The Danish Academy of Sciences and Letters has awarded a gohl 

 medal to Baron E. von liaerdtl, of Innspruck, for his memoir on a 

 case of the problem of three l^odies proposed by the Acadamy in lS8i>. 



Aslronoiinj and aslra-pln/.sic.s. — With its one hiindi'ed ;ind lirst num- 

 ber, the Sidereal Mcssciujcr, which has been edited by Prof. \V. ^V. 

 Payne, at Xorthfield, Minn., since 18S2, takes a new name, and is 

 enlarged, so that a considerable portion of each numlx-r is de\ oled, 

 under the able editorship of Prof. 0. E. Hale, of Cliicago University, 

 to what is now known as astro-iihysics. Prof. Payne continues as 

 i-enior editor in "(leneral Astronomy," assisted by l*rof. IF. C. AVilson. 

 Tlie bibliograjdicr will note that, though the journal has a new name, 

 the volume and current number are continued from tlie Sidereal Mes- 

 senfjer ; thus the initial numbei- of Astronomy and Astro-physics is 

 "Number 101," forming part of ''A'olume xi." 



It is stated that there are to be erected in Berlin three huiulred 

 "Urania i)ilhirs.'' These pillars will be nbout 18 feet higli, made of 

 cast iron, and will each contain a clock, meteorological instruments, 

 weather charts, astronomi<-al and geograi)hical annouucenu'nts, and 

 also, as in the streets of Paris, a plan of the neighboring streets in en- 

 larged Ibrm to enable strangers to iind their way. The instruments 

 are to be regulated from the observatory. 



A stai- atlas by llerr Jacob Messer, of St, Petersburg, the page being 

 about 4i inches by 8-i inches, will be found extremely convenient for 

 amateur observers wliodo not care to burden themselves with tiie larger 

 works. It contains all the stars visible to the naked eye (lirst to sixth 

 magnitudes, inclusive), from the north iM)le down to 35'^ south declina- 

 tion, together with a selection of the most interesting double stars, 

 variables^ nebuhe, clusters, etc. 



