.[ 4.7 ] 

 XV. A List of Moon-culminating Stars for 1827*- 



Dear Sir, London, 25 Aug. 1826- 



ISEND vou inclosed the list of moon-culminating stars for 

 the first six months of the ensuing year 1827. The method 

 I adopt is to look out for two stars to precede, and two to Jol- 

 loxv the moon's transit : one of each of these is to be as near as 

 possible to the moon in right ascension ; and the others at not 

 more than 30 or 40 minutes distance.— The former are for the 

 use of those observatories that are situated near each other ; 

 such as the principal European ones ; and the others are tor 

 observatories situated at a considerable distance from each 

 other, and for travellers m various parts of the world.— 1 have 

 also selected stars of greater magnitude than have genera ly 

 been adopted : for I have found by experience that the smaller 

 stars are apt to be mistaken; and several erroneous observa- 

 tions have consequently been recorded. For that purpose I 

 have taken a greater range in declination (still however limimg 

 that range to a difference of 2° or 3° only) ; for I find tha 

 unless atransit mstrument is very much md of level, no great 

 error can arise. In these latitudes an inclination of the axis, 

 of 10", would make a difference of only 0",01 m time, when 

 the star is situated 1° from the moon: and as we approach 

 towards the equator, these difierences vanish altogether. 



You will observe that I have inserted Jupiter and Saturn, 

 when they are near the moon, and when their motion is retro- 

 urade : and also Venus on the day of her occultation m l^e- 

 bruarv. I have also inserted the moon's declination as well 

 as her right ascension : both of which relate to the time of her 

 culminatfon at Greenwich. Opposite to the moon I have also 

 placed (in a parenthesis) the number of days, from the time of 

 new moon ; which may be occasionally useful. 



Those stars to which an asterisk is annexed, are such as 

 will pass through the field of the telescope (m these latitudes) 

 on the same apparent parallel as the moon: without any alte- 

 ration in the position of the telescope: and such stars will 

 probably undergo an occultation in the course of the evening. 

 Tliey are i)ointed out as more worthy of observation for fixed 

 observatories in this part of Europe. I am, cScc. 



Francis Bailv. 



r# From Schumacher's Astronomische Nachrichtcn, No. IOC Most of the 

 stars, after the IJth clay of the Moon's age, have been ^^^^^^^^y^^'^^^^^^ 

 sen- as Mr. Baily considered it useless to select any stars foi ho^e 1a>s 

 un ess they were of the 1st or 2ud n.agnitude : and had not selected any 

 start dirte^in.n.ore than 3° from the Moon, in declination. 1 he numbers 

 within i)arcntlieses arc from Piazzi's Catalogue.— buiT.J 



