On the Motion of the Sun and Sola?- System. 245 



more towards the line sa, representing the apparent motion 

 ofSirius. We shall accordingly try a point near the fol- 

 lowing kuce of Hercules, whose right ascension is 270° 15, 

 and north polar distance 54° 45', 



The result of a calculation of the angles, an-d the least 

 quantities of r^al motion of our six stars, according to this 

 apex, is collected in the following table, and represented 

 in fig. 3. 



Table Vr. 



By this table it appears that the annual proper motion of 

 our six stars may be reduced to 1,4594", which is 0,7655" 

 less than the sum in the 5th table, where the apex was 

 .A Herculis. 



In the approximation to this point it appeared, that when 

 the line of the parallactic motion of Sirius is made to coin- 

 cide with its apparent motion, we may soon obtain a certain 

 minimum of the other parallactic motions; but as Sirius is 

 jiot the star which has the greatest proper motion, it oc- 

 curred to me that another minimum, obtained from the line 

 in which Arcturus appears to move, would be more accu- 

 rate ; for, on account of its great proper motion, we have 

 reason to suppose it more aflTectcfl than other stars by the 

 parallax arising from the motion of the sun ; and, with a 

 view to this, I soon was led to a point not only in the line 

 of the apparent motion of Arcturus, but equally favourable 

 to Sirius and Procyon, the remaining two stars that have 

 the greatest motions. 



If the principle of determining the direction of the solar 

 motion by the stars which have the greatest proper motion 

 be admitted, the following apex must be extremely near the 

 truth ; for, an alteration of a few minutes in right ascension 

 or polar distance cither way, will immediately increase the 

 required real motion of our stars. Its place is : right ascen- 

 sion 245" 52' 30", and north polar distance 40° 22'. 



O 3 The 



