400 DE. HERSCHEL'S FIFTH AND SIXTH CATALOGUES OF THE 



" constellations, which are pretty far advanced, will be given in successive small 

 " catalogues as soon as time will permit to complete them. 



" Each page is divided into four columns, the first of which gives the number of 

 " the stars in the British catalogue of Mr. FLAMSTEED, as they stand arranged in the 

 " edition of 1725. 



" The second column contains the letters which have been affixed to the stars. 



" The third column gives the magnitude assigned to the stars by FLAMSTEED in the 

 " British catalogue ; and 



" The fourth contains my determination of the comparative brightness of each star, 

 " by a reference to proper standards. 



" All numbers used in the fourth column refer to the stars of the same constellation 

 ' in which they occur, except when they are marked by the name of some other 

 " constellation ; and in that case the alteration so introduced extends only to the 

 " single number which is marked, and which then refers to the constellation affixed 

 ' to the number. 



" The numbers at the head of the notes, which will be found at the end of the 

 " catalogue, refer to the stars in the same constellation to which the notes belong. 



" Simple Characters. 



' ' The least perceptible difference less bright. 



" . Equality. 



" , The least perceptible difference more bright. 



"' - A very small difference more bright. 



" -, A small difference more bright. 



- A considerable difference more bright. 

 - Any great difference more bright in general. 



" Compound Characters, expressing the Wavering of Star Light. 



" '. From the least perceptible difference less bright to equality. 



" ; From equality to the least perceptible difference more bright. 



" ~ From a very small difference more bright, to the least perceptible difference. 



"' =, From -, to - &c. 



" -The wavering expressed by the passing of the light from a state of the least 

 ' perceptible difference less bright to equality, and to the least perceptible difference 

 ' more bright. 



" T The wavering expressed by the changes from - to , and to . or from . to and 

 <l to - " 



