Astronomical Society. 14'9 



May "t. — Thomas Beil, Esq. of New Broad Street, was elected 

 a fellow of the Society. 



The reading of Professor Sedgwick's paper on the Magnesian 

 Limestone was continued. 



ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY. 



May 1 1 — There was read a paper " On the approximate places 

 and descriptions of 295 new double and triple stars, discovered in 

 the course of a series of observations with a ^O-feet reflecting tele- 

 scope; together with some observations of double stars previously 

 known." By the President. The author prefixes a few remarks to 

 this catalogue of stars, in which he first explains why the places of 

 tlie stars which it contains are probably materially more exact than 

 those of his former catalogue, especially in right ascension. He 

 then records some results of his observations, either in them- 

 selves considered, or in comparison of preceding observations of 

 Mr. South, and some other astronomers. Thus the curious double 

 star, ^-R, iT" 52"' V,5, so remarkably situated in the midst of a very 

 large and conspicuous nebula, affords a striking instance how easily 

 the latter class of objects may be overlooked in the usual mode of 

 conducting astronomical observations. Mr. South measured this 

 star in the 5 feet equatorial, but the nebula, which forms so inter- 

 esting an appendage to it, entirely escaped his notice. The obser- 

 vations of UrscB Majoris supply a satisfactory confirmation of its 

 motion, in conjunction with those of Mr. South in the spring of 

 1825, its angular motion being found to be about 7° per annum. 

 Since Mr. Herschel's first observation of thisstar, in conjunction with 

 Mr. South in 1823, it has described nearly a twelfth of its revolu- 

 tion. This star, therefore, is earnestly recommended to astrono- 

 mers, as frequent and careful observations upon it can scarcely fail 

 to develope tiie law of gravitation in that remote system. Both the 

 stars in a Capricorni are double: and that usually designated as a', 

 Mr. H. characterizes as one of the most beautiful and delicate ob- 

 jects in the heavens. The introductory remarks terminate with an 

 account of a curious meteorological phaenomenon, which occurred 

 on the 19th of April last. The paper concludes with a catalogue 

 of new double stars, arranged in the manner of the author's former 

 catalogue. 



There was next read a paper from Mr. Curnin, the Superinten- 

 dent of the Observatory at Bombay, communicating a regular series 

 of observations of moon-culminating stars, on the several previously 

 arranged days, for the lunations in the months of February, March, 

 April, May, and a few detached observations on similar stars in 

 August and September, in the year 1825. These observations were 

 made with a transit instrument of only two feet focal length, and 

 little more than two inches aperture, placed in a temporary obser- 

 vatory. The deviation of this instrument from the meridian, in the 

 early part of the observations, was nearly one minute in time ; but 

 it is not mentioned whether the deviation was easterly or westerly : 

 and Mr. Curnin remarks that the error of its position on each day 



