362 Astronomical Society. 



of the largest dimensions, having 11 f inches clear aperture, and 19 

 feet focal ienglii, has been purchased by our spirited President. The 

 task of mounting this gigantic telescope equatorially, has been under- 

 taken by the most celebrated of our modern artists, and we may hope 

 to see this active astronomer speedily engaged in pursuing, with un- 

 equalled means and unabated ardour, the path of discovery in which 

 he is already so advantageously known*. 



Your Council trust, that they have not been backward in promoting, 

 to the utmost of their power, every attempt to advance the interests 

 of the science of Astronomy. 



Before the departure of Captain Ross on his Arctic expedition, that 

 enterprising officer proposed to make any scientific observations, for 

 which his situation might be considered favourable, should he unfor- 

 tunately be detained upon his perilous route. An application was 

 made by him to the Lords of the Admiralty, and supported by your 

 Council, for a loan of the requisite instruments, which was received 

 by their Lordships in a most gratifying manner. Captain Ross was 

 amply supplied with the proper instruments ; and, at the request of the 

 Council, a list of moon-culminating stars, for the months of January, 

 February, March, and April, 1 83 I , was prepared for him by Mr. Hen- 

 derson, the Astronomer Royal having undertaken that the correspond- 

 ing observations should be made at Greenwich. 



The numerous and excellent observations of Aldebaran, during the 

 preceding year, which have been already communicated, are a satis- 

 factory proof of the increased interest felt for the science, and of the 

 importance attached to the views and wishes of the Society. In some 

 instances the star disappeared instantaneously after the bisection of its 

 disc by the moon's limb, while in others the projection lasted nearly 

 six seconds. It does not appear that a sensible diminution of bright- 

 ness was perceived previous to immersion. When a .sufficient number 

 of well-attested appearances has been collected, it may be possible 

 to account for the anomalies which have hitherto been so perplexing. 

 The attention of astronomers towards this interesting phsenomenon 

 is earnestly requested during the present year. Neither should the 



• [Although this telescope was placed on a temporary stand, at the Presi- 

 dent's Observatory at Kensington, on January 29, the weather did not per- 

 mit of any trial of its powers _^j?-mo«4/y to the Anniversary. It may now, 

 therefore, be interesting to state, that the first night on which an opportunity 

 was aftbrded, viz. the 13th of February, Mr. Herschel discovered a j«-M star 

 in the trapezium in the nebula of Orion, a few degrees south following of, and 

 about five or six seconds distant from, the star denominated A in that tra- 

 pezium, in Mr. South's observations of the double stars. Its brightness is 

 about one-third of that of the fifth star, discovered by M. Struve, which is 

 as distinctly seen as the companion to Polaris is in a 5-feet achromatic. Jt 

 was immediately after detected by Mr. South, and has since been seen by 

 Mr. Baily, Mr. Troughton, Mr. Sharpe, and others' and repeatedly by my- 

 self. Saturn, with his Belts, Double Ring, and Seven Satellites, is beau- 

 tifully defined, with powers of 130, 280, and 350. The object-glass i? not in 

 very perfect adjustment; it was placed in its cell, as now used, by mere ac- 

 cident, and, in consequence of unfavourable weather, it has not been deemed 

 prudent hitherto to attempt any alteration.— W. S. S. Sec] 



predicted 



