Astronomical hiformation. 389 



mean time ; Tables of refraction according to Bessel, Brink 

 ley, Carlini, Laplace, Gauss, and Yoimg ; Tables for the re- 

 duction to the meridian ; Tables of equal altitude, computed 

 by ]M. Gerling from the formula of M. Gauss, for eveiy minute 

 of the half interval ; Tables for the reduction of barometrical 

 observations ; and Tables for finding the sidereal time at mean 

 noon. M. Schumacher does not give any intimation of tlie 

 extent of these tables : but, in his hands, the selection cannot 

 fail of being judicious and useful. 



2. The astronomers on the continent appear to have been 

 actively emi^loved during the present year in observing the 

 three comets, which were first discovered by M. Pons, at Mar- 

 lia, and subsequently by other astronomers. From the north 

 to the south of Europe, the journals are filled with observa- 

 tions and calculations relative to these singular visitors of our 

 system. Every principal observatory, from Prague to Milan, 

 appears to have directed its attention to these objects : and the 

 favourable state of the weather has enabled the observers to 

 pursue their researches with unexampled success. Amongst 

 those who have devoted their valuable time, either in making 

 observ-ations, or in calculating the orbits of these comets, we 

 observe the names of Pons [le prepose du del, as he is called 

 by Zacli) Carlini, Santini, Ursin, Schumacher, Gambart, 

 Biela, Hallaschka, Caturegh, Frisiani, Olbers, Harding and 

 Enke. It does not appear that either of these comets has 

 been seen, or even looked after, in this country. They have, 

 in fact, scarcely been heard of, except through the vague no- 

 tices hi the newspapers. 



3. The indefetigable Bcssd has commenced an nnportant 

 work, which every lover of astronomy must wish to see fol- 

 lowed up with success. It is a general survey of the heavens, 

 in zones : and the first part of the work is already in the press. 

 We propose to give, in our next Number, his preliminary re- 

 marks on this subject; which will preclude the necessity of 

 our entering further on it at present, 



4. There is reason to believe that the observations of the 

 stars given in Lalande's Ilistoirc Celeste are about to be re- 

 duced: a laborious undertaking, which has long been a desi- 

 deratum witli astronomers. 



5. In the Nautical Almanac for 18'25, the mean places ol 

 the principal stars for January 0. 1825, inserted at the bottom 

 of the table ()fa])parent jilaces, are most of them vvrong. Thus 

 the Ai of Polaris is O''. 58'. 17", 40 instead ot 1G",06: the 

 North Polar DisUmce of Capella is 41". 11'. 26",2 instead of 

 28",3: the NorUi Polar Distance of 7i<"A'«/?« is 77". 10'. 51",9 

 i"'nslead of 50",1 : and thus of several others. We notice that 

 the longitudes and laliludes of the nine principal fixed stars, 



from 



