* 
298 Scientific Intelligence. 
This observatory is the result of the private munificence of 700 or 
800 citizens of Cincinnati, each of whom has contributed in sums of 
$25 to the funds of the society. 
It is said that this noble telescope has disclosed the ‘ beds of lakes 
and rivers’ in the moon. We may safely infer however, that these 
are dry rivers. If there was any water on the moon’s surface, a por- 
tion of it would be evaporated and form an atmosphere about the moon, 
which would reflect light, and affect the duration of occultations of the 
stars. A ray of light entering the earth’s atmosphere obliquely, is re- 
fracted more than half a degree, and it experiences the same effect in 
emerging from our atmosphere, so that the total deviation of a ray of 
light just grazing the earth’s surface is more than a degree. If the — 
moon had an atmosphere of the same density as the earth, and its cen- 
tre was interposed between us and a fixed star, the star would not be 
concealed, but would be seen with scarcely diminished brightness three 
quarters of a degree from the moon’s disc. If the moon had an atmo- 
sphere capable of supporting a column of mercury only one fiftieth of an 
inch in height, it would produce an amount of refraction in the occulta- 
tion of a star which would long since have been detected. But no in- 
dications of refraction, however minute, have ever been perceived ; 
hence we may safely infer that there is no river either on the ‘ hither’ 
or further side of the moon. 
To complete the outfit of the Cincinnati observatory, there is wanted 
a clock and transit circle, without which the great refractor will be 
comparatively useless to science. The citizens of Cincinnati have eX- 
cited the admiration of their own countrymen and of Europe, by their 
liberal patronage of the sublime science of astronomy; an we dou 
not that the view of the heavens through their noble telescope will amply 
repay them for all the sacrifices they have made. 
As the subject of astronomical observatories is attracting increased 
attention in this country, and we are almost daily hearing of the put- 
chase of new instruments, it may be well to give an extract from the 
catalogue of Merz and Mabler’s refractors. 
No. 1. Refractor 21 feet focus, 14 (French) inches aperture ; price 
42,000 florins. [The florin is about 40 cents.] This is the instrument 
furnished for the Russian observatory at Pulkova, and a similar one has 
been ordered fur Cambridge observatory, in this country. 
No. 2. Refractor 17$ feet focus, 12 inches aperture ; price 30,000 
florins. This is the one purchased for the Cincinnati observatory- 
No, 3. 15 feet focus, 104 inches aperture, price 22,000 florins. 
No. 4. 134 feet focus, 9 inches aperture, price 15,000 florins. This 
is the one purchased for the Washington observatory. 
No. 5. 9% feet focus, 7 inches aperture, price 8000 florins. 
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