\ 



History of Astronomy for the Year 1803. 21" 



\t at the Military School, or Maisoii du Champ de Mars, 

 as long as it coulil be seen on the meridian. They found 

 the opposition en the 29th of June 1803 at 23'' 57' lO'' 

 mean time in 9^ 7° 39', with 46" 26' 36" of latitude. 



On the 1 1th of .July M. Burckhardt gave us the new ele- 

 meins, bv which we can find it again in the month of March 

 next. 



The sidereal revolution, 1681 days ^rf ,j 5 tropical revolu- 

 tion lCSO-97, or 4 years 7 months 11 days. 



Semi-axis _ - - 2-767123 

 Aphelion - - 4^ 1'^ 6' 46" 



Kodc - - - 5 22 27 35 



Inciination - - 34 38 50 



Anomaly, June 30 - lo 19 9 

 Which gives for the mean longitude the 1st of Januaiy 

 1S04, 9'"29° 52' 58"; eccentricity the same as in the pre- 

 ceding elements, 0'2463 ; diurnal motion, 12' 50' 983''; an- 

 nual motion, 7S" lO' q" . 



M. Burckliardt has been employed in calculating the per- 

 turijations experienced bv the planets of Piazzi and Olbers. 

 In consequence of the attraction of Jupiter these calcula- 

 tions arc exceedingly complex, because tiie higher powers 

 of the eccentricity and inclination produce a great number 

 of terms. 



lie has given formula of the pcrturbatioiis to the 5th 

 power; and he even believes that the eleventh power might 

 furnish i^ensible terms for that of Olbers. He is engaged 

 in these researches. 



On the 18th of Thermidor of the year 1 1, according to 

 tlie senahis consult tim of the 26th of Vendcmiaire pieced- 

 inir, government admitted M, Burckhardt to the privileges 

 of ;. [''rench citizen. Want of this admission prevented 

 him from being a member of the Institute at the last-elec- 

 tion. Government wished to indemnify him by a flattering 

 distinction due to exalted merit. This is a new encourage- 

 ment to the labours with which he daily enriches astro- 

 nomy. 



Oil the 4th of April the Institute decreed, for the first 

 time, the pnze of astronomy which I founded the preced- 

 ing year. It was adjudged to Dr. Olbers for liis discovery 

 of a tenth planet. 



1 -ice with rearet, that the Germans have no more respect 

 for Dr. Olbers tlian they have for Dr. Ilerschel. The name 

 of I'allas has no foundation : jealousy, perhajis, is the cause 

 ()f tiiis injustice. 



I have had the satisfaction to find that astronomy is ex- 

 tend inn 



