376 Chronicles of Science. [July, 
the solar spots with a spectroscope specially prepared for the purpose 
by Mr. Browning. 
The last-named gentleman is also preparing a powerful spectro- 
scope for use with the great Parsonstown reflector. The Earl of 
Rosse, following worthily in the footsteps of his father, is about to 
apply the unrivalled light-gathering powers of this imstrument to 
the spectroscopic analysis of objects too faint to be reached by 
smaller telescopes. Clockwork is to be so applied to the great tele- 
scope, so that it will follow stars and nebulz as closely as a smaller 
equatorial would. 
Our readers will be glad to hear that the instruments supplied by 
the Royal Society to the expedition under Lieutenant John Herschel 
have already been applied to useful work—six nebule in the southern 
hemisphere have been examined with the spectroscope. The great 
nebula in Argo is found to exhibit a spectrum of bright lines, so 
that, like its rival in splendour the great Orion nebula, this object 
is gaseous. 
The great eclipse of August 17th will be well watched. Besides 
the expeditions sent out under Lieutenant Herschel and Major 
Tennant, there is to be one under the charge of Mr. Pogson, the 
Government astronomer at Madras; another has been sent out by 
France under M. Jansen; the Papal government sends out Father 
Secchi, and there is also to be a Prussian expedition. Mr. Huggins 
has sent out to Mr. Pogson a spectroscope and apparatus for observing 
polarization. 
The Minister of Public Instruction in France has lately submitted 
to the Council of State the draft of a decree for the complete re- 
organization of the Imperial Observatory at Paris. Itis stated that 
this establishment will be removed from its present site, which is 
very unfavourable for astronomical observation, owing to the vibra- 
tion of the building caused by passing vehicles. The air also in the 
neighbourhood of the Observatory is so heavily loaded with smoke 
and vapour as to interfere with many of the delicate observations 
which have to be made by astronomers of the present day. We 
learn that owing to these causes it is impossible to apply a higher 
power than 500 to the great equatorial. It is proposed to remove 
the Observatory to Fontenoy-aux-Roses, south-west of Paris. 
The planet Venus is now very favourably situated for observation. 
She has been seen several times in full day-light. Mr. Browning 
has observed several faint markings on the planet, resembling the 
grey plains on the moon. ‘These markings seem to be studded 
with white spots of various sizes.” Jt is a pity that modern 
astronomers do not make an effort to learn something respecting 
the axial position of Venus. Large achromatics do not seem well 
suited to this work, on account of the extreme brilliancy of Venus. 
