1826.] 



Astronomical Society. 



63 



corresponding observations should be made in the northern 

 hemisphere ; without which the observations made in the south 

 would (as far as this subject is concerned) be rendered of little or 

 no use. He trusted therefore that those practical astronomers 

 who were possessed of the requisite instruments (and they were 

 by no means complex or expensive) would attend to this phseno- 

 nienon, and record the observations which they might have the 

 advantage and opportunity of making; the uncertainty of this 

 climate rendering it extremely desirable that all those who had 

 the means should unite in so useful an undertakins;. 



For the convenience of such observers, the President an- 

 nounced that he had computed the right ascension and declina- 

 tion of six stars, near which Mars would pass a few days before 

 and after his opposition : these being the whole which he could 

 find in any of the catalogues. They were here offered only as 

 a mean of identifying the star with which the planet may be 

 compared. It was probable that other stars might be sen, in 

 the field of view of the telescope ; and that even some of these 

 might not be found ; for the catalogues of the smaller stars are 

 still very imperfect. It would render observations of this kind 

 more complete and useful, if regular observations of such stars 

 as might be situated near Mars at the time of his opposition, 

 were made at the public observatories ; whereby the true posi- 

 tion of the planet in the heavens would be more correctly ascer- 

 tained. 



The following are the mean positions of the stars above 

 alluded to on the 1st of Janut rv, 1826 : — 



Star. 



8 Libra) 



(195) P 



JL/. Li. J\.% 



(252) P 



Mag. 



6 

 3 



8-9 

 7 



8-9 

 6-7 



AR 



14'* 41'" 5^ 

 41 16 

 43 

 46 38 

 63 51 

 57 7 



D. 



-15° 

 15 

 15 

 16 

 15 

 15 



16' 



18 



40 



5 



54 



48 



2" 

 42 

 36 

 12 



8 

 13 



The reading of the description of the large reflecting telescope 

 and frame made by Mr. John Ramage, of Aberdeen, was termi- 

 nated. Mr. Ramage has, ever since the year 1806, devoted 

 much of his time to the construction of reflecting telescopes of 

 large size, and of convenient frames and supports, in which firm- 

 ness of structure and facility of adjustment to any required 

 position, should be equally attained. The telescope new 

 described has a twenty-five feet tube. The platform upon 

 which the telescope is placed, and revolves at pleasure, is a 

 strong circular rail-way of cast iron, twenty-seven feet and a half 

 in diameter, and four inches in breadth. The horizontal aziiiiu- 



