70 HISTORY OF ASTRONOMY. 



more inclined to the plane of the ecliptic than that of 

 most of the other planets. 



The next member of the group of small planets in the 

 order of discovery, was found by Mr. Hind in the con- 

 stellation Scorpio, on the 19th of May, 1851, and four 

 days later by Dr. Gasparis, at Naples. It appeared like 

 a star of between the eighth and ninth magnitudes, with 

 a full blue light, and seemed to be surrounded by a 

 faint nebulous envelope or atmosphere, which could not 

 be perceived about stars of equal brightness. The nature 

 of this object was satisfactorily established within half 

 an hour from the first glimpse of it on the 19th of May ; 

 repeated examinations of the vicinity on previous oc- 

 casions having indicated no star in the position of the 

 stranger. At the recommendation of Sir John Herschel 

 the new planet was named Irene, in allusion to the peace 

 prevailing at that time in Europe ; the symbol proposed 

 being a dove with an olive-branch and star on its head. 



On the night of July 29, 1851, another small planet 

 was discovered by Dr. Gasparis, at Naples, in the course 

 of his zone observations, commenced with an especial view 

 to the discovery of new planets. It shone as a fine star 

 of the ninth magnitude ; but, owing to its low situation 

 in the heavens, was not so generally observed during 

 its first apparition as some of the other newly-discovered 

 bodies. Dr. Gasparis named his planet Eunomia, who 

 in classical mythology was one of the Seasons, a sister of 

 Irene. 



On the 17th of March, 1852, M. de Gasparis, at Naples, 



