J 22 Hisfory of Astronomy for the Year 180(3. 



jnoiith of August a sineular calculation made by an annn^?'- 

 jnous astronomer in Germany, who asce-.taintd that the six 

 old planets would return to the same spot in 280,000 years. 

 Ikl. MoLigin has ascertained that in fact the differences do 

 not exceed the errors that the longitude of this period should 

 produce iu the revolutions of i:000 years, or vatlier for 200 

 years ; because the observations which are liiore antient are 

 very imperfect. 



M. I'oczobut, notwithstanding his g?eat age, still fur- 

 nishes an example of zeal and courage. He has sent me a 

 course of curious observations made upon Harding's planet, 

 along with M. Reschka, professor of astronomy at Wilna 

 in Poland. 



M. Gauss has calculated the six elciflents of this planet, 

 which differ very little from the preceding ones, but which 

 will require alterations when this skilful geometrician shall 

 have finished the calculation of the perturbations with which 

 he is occupied. 



M. Schroter has made some new inquiries upon the po- 

 sition of the axis of Mars, upon its atmosphere, and its 

 spots. 



The Memoirs of Berlin for 1803, which appeared in the 

 month of May 1605, contain a great number of observa- 

 tions of M. Bode made at the royal observatory of Berlin. 



The eclipse of the sun on the 6th of June was the most 

 remarkable phaenonienon of the year 1806, because it was 

 total in the United Stites. It was observed in three places 

 in America, and served me for calculating the solar and 

 lunar diameters by comparing it with the observations of 

 the annular eclipses, as may be seen in the Memoirs of the 

 Institute. I am surprised it was not observed at Boston, 

 where there is an academy ; but Mr. Deferrcr, an Englishman 

 settled at New York, went to Albany on purpose to see it. 



M. Richard, a missionary on the banks of Lake Erie, 

 also observed it ; and I conclude the difference of meridians 

 to be S'' 36'; which confirms the position given in the chart 

 of the United Stites by Abraham Bradley, 



This eclipse was observed at fifteen places in Europe; 

 whence I determined the time of the conjunction at 4'' 30' 6" 



true 



