68 HISTOEY OF ASTRONOMY. 



Herschel had suggested that Parthenope would be a very 

 appropriate name to commemorate the site of the dis- 

 covery ; that nymph having given her name to the city 

 now called Naples. Signor de Gasparis states that he 

 used his utmost exertions to realize for Sir John Herschel 

 a Parthenope in the heavens, and his endeavors were 

 crowned with success on the llth of May, 1850. This 

 new planet appeared like a star of the ninth magnitude. 



On the evening of September 13, 1850, Mr. Hind 

 noticed a star of the eighth magnitude in the constel- 

 lation Pegasus, near another small one frequently ex- 

 amined on previous occasions, without any mention 

 being made of its bright neighbor. Its peculiar bluish 

 light satisfied him at once as to its planetary nature, and 

 the micrometer was introduced to ascertain the difference 

 of right ascension between the two objects, and to ob- 

 tain conclusive proof of the discovery of a new planet. 

 In less than an hour the brighter star had moved west- 

 ward about two seconds of time, so that no doubt could 

 be entertained in respect to its nature and position in 

 the solar system. Mr. Hind selected for this planet the 

 name Victoria, with a star and laurel -branch for its sym- 

 bol. In case, however, this name should be considered 

 objectionable, he proposed that of Clio, which name has 

 been generally preferred by American astronomers. 



Eemarkable changes of brilliancy in this body have 

 been noticed at the Washington observatory. On the 

 night of November 4, 1850, the planet appeared of the 

 tenth magnitude. On the succeeding night it had dimin - 



