64 HISTOKY OF ASTRONOMY. 



showed the body to be one of the family of asteroids. M. 

 Hencke requested Professor Encke to name his new 

 planet, and the Professor conferred on it the appellation 

 of Astraea. 



Encouraged by his success, M. Hencke continued his 

 search for planetary bodies, extending and verifying the 

 Berlin Academical charts, and by frequent comparison 

 with the heavens acquired an extensive knowledge of the 

 configurations of the smaller stars in certain regions 

 about the equator and ecliptic. On the 1st of July, 1847, 

 while engaged in examining the seventeenth hour of 

 right ascension, he perceived a small star, of about the 

 ninth magnitude, which was not marked on the cor- 

 responding map of the Academy. On the 3d, he repeat- 

 ed his observation, and found that, during the intermedi- 

 ate period, its right ascension had sensibly diminished, 

 leaving no doubt of its planetary nature. Information of 

 the discovery was circulated by M. Hencke on the follow- 

 ing day, and the planet was soon recognized at the prin- 

 cipal observatories of Europe. The illustrious mathe- 

 matician, Professor Gauss, was deputed by the discoverer 

 to select a name for the stranger, and it received the name 

 of Hebe, with a cup for the symbol, emblematic of the 

 office of the goddess in mythology. The orbit is very 

 eccentric, and inclined more than 14 degrees to the plane 

 of the ecliptic. 



The next two members of this remarkable group in 

 order of discovery were found by Mr. Hind, at the ob- 

 servatory erected by Mr. Bishop, in the grounds of his 



