26 TRANSACTIONS OF THE ocr. 31. 
The Secretary read the following nomination for Resident 
member, 
C. N. Jones, 346 Broadway, New York, 
the nomination was seconded by John Tatlock, Jr., and referred 
to the Council. 
The Astronomical section then organized with Pror. Ress 
in the chair, the Secretary called attention to the following 
matters of interest : 
1. Observations of the partial solar eclipse of October 20, 
made at Columbia College Observatory, and communicated to 
the Astronomical Journal. 
2. Observations of the periodic variation of latitude, made 
at Berlin, Prague, Strassburg, and Honolulu by German 
observers. <A chart showing the variation curves obtained at 
the stations from May 1891, to June 1892 was exhibited. 
3. Discovery of a comet by photography at the Lick Observa- 
tory by Prof. Barnard, October 12 1892. 
4. A series of fine heliogravure reproductions of Lick 
lunar photographs was shown. They were copies of drawings 
made from the Lick negatives by Prof. Weinck of Prague. 
The following communication was then read by the Secretary : 
To the Secretary of the Astronomical Section of the New 
York Academy of Sciences:— 
Dear Sir : 
Please announce the following notice : 
On the probable connection between solar and terrestrial activity. 
The terrestrial magnetic storms, the aurorae borealis and the 
meteorological disturbances, observed to be especially strong 
during the maximum period of sun spots, are due to the electrical 
and chemical effects of the increased quantity of ultraviolet 
light which the sun at the maximum period of its activity sends 
to the earth. The particular sources of this increment in the 
quantity of ultraviolet light are the sun spots, and especially, the 
faculae and the protuberances which, accompany the sun spots. 
Yours very respectfully, 
M. I. Popin. 
