188 On the Nautical Almanac. 



is, to insert, in contiguous columns to the moon's longitude and 

 latitude, her horary motions in each course. 



A correct list of the longitudes and latitudes of all the zodi- 

 acal stars, down to those of the seventh magnitude, ought to he 

 given in each number of the Nautical Almanac, in order that per- 

 sons may frequently look out for occultations, bv the moon, of 

 such stars as lie in her path. A list of this kind uas given in the 

 Nautical Almanac for 1773, but has never been continued. 



Many other useful tables might likewise be introduced, with- 

 out much additional expense to the work, as will readily suggest 

 themselves to those persons who have the conducting of it: and 

 many improvements might be made in the arrangement of the 

 different articles. For instance, the configurations and eclipses 

 of Jupiter's satellites ought to present themselves at the ia?ne 

 opening of the book, as is done in the Connaissance des Terns and 

 in M. Bode's ephemeris, in order to avoid a reference from one 

 part tathe other. A table of the state of the tides might be in- 

 troduced, as in the Connaissance des Terns: the phases of Venus 

 and the position of Saturn's ring at different periods might like- 

 wise be given, in the same manner as by M. Bode in his ephe- 

 meris, by means of v/ood-cuts. The same mode might likewise 

 be adopted for showing the phases of eclipses, and the occulta- 

 tions of some of the principal fixed stars. The columns of the 

 monthly phaEUomena should be enlarged and thrown together at 

 the end, similar to the plan adopted in the Connaissance des Terns 

 and bv M. Bode: and every visible occultalioji of the stars noted 

 down, in order that persons may look out for them. The appen- 

 dix should be revised, and such parts excluded as are not adapted 

 to the state of science at the present day : such as the recom- 

 mendation of twenty-feet telescopes as the most proper for ob- 

 serving Jupiter's satellites. 



The rising and setting of the sun, moon, and planets, for the 

 different days in the vear, should be inserted, as in the Connais- 

 sance des Terns: for although the Almanac is intended for general 

 use, and adapted to all parts of the world, yet it is more used in 

 this country than in any other ; and many persons (even of an 

 astronomical turn) are obliged to buy other almanacs to obtain 

 that information. 



Several other improvements and alterations may probably oc- 

 cur to some of your readers; and they would he rendering an es- 

 sential service to the science of astronomy if they would publicly 

 suggest them, for the consideration of the new board of longi- 

 tude: who will, no doubt, attend to any hints which rnay tend 

 to make the Nautical Almanac more generally useful than it has, 

 of late years, hitherto been. 



I am, sir, your obedient servant, 

 March 10, 1818. AsTRONOMicus. 



P.S.-~WouId 



