STUDIES IN STELLAR STATISTICS. II. 31 
about the same centre. The numbers given above, however, indicate 
that this is very nearly the case. 
Taking all subelasses together we obtain the following results: 
Distance from the sun of the centre: D = 18.21 Siriometers. 
Declination UNE » b = — 550,62 
Right Ascension » > a = 742" 
The centre of the stellar system is situated in the square Z,. 
in the constellation Carina’. 
For photographie charts of this part of the heavens I refer to the 
brilliant charts obtained in Arequipa by BaiLey, reproduced in the 
Harvard Annals Vol. 72. The centre lies on plate 4. I refer also to 
the Franklin—Adams charts N:ris 17 and 18. The brilliant aspect of 
these parts of the sky is most enthusiastically described by Sir John 
Herschel in his Cape Observations P. 38, in the following words, 
which I cannot forbear to cite literally: 
»In fact, it is impossible for any one with the least spark 
of astronomical enthusiasm about him to pass soberly in review, with 
a powerful telescope and in a fine night, that portion of the southern 
sky which is comprised between 6" and 13" of RA, and from 146° 
to 149° of NPD, such are the variety and interest of the objects he 
will encounter, and such the dazzling riehness of the starry ground 
on whieh they are represented to his gaze». 
The place a — 7^, d = — 55*.e is, as a matter of fact, (as is 
evident from a glance at a star map), not situated in that portion of the 
sky covered by the whitish ground of the Milky Way. The explanation 
of this seemingly contradictory fact is easy to find. It depends simply 
on the excentric position of the sun above the fundamental plane of 
the Milky Way. I determine later this position It may suffice here 
to point out that for an observer situated at the Z-axis of the Galaxy 
the projection of the Centre of the Galaxy ought to coincide with the 
pole of the Milky Way. The fact that the projection of the centre falls 
rather near to the course of the Milky Way shows that the sun lies 
nearly in the fundamental plane of the Galaxy. 
15. Frequency distribution of the equatorial coordinates. It was 
declared in § 13 that the distribution of the coordinates of the stars 
! The nearest bright star is & Carine. 
