SECTION 7. 



ASTRONOMICAL PUBLICATIONS. 



AMONG astronomical publications in this country, the 

 translation of La Place's Mecanique Celeste, by Bow- 

 ditch, deservedly holds the first rank. Although in 

 name merely a translation of a foreign book, with a com- 

 mentary, it has many claims io the character of an 

 original work. 



The observations made by Lieutenant Gilliss at "Wash- 

 ington from 1838 to 1842, have been published by order 

 of Congress, and form an octavo volume of 672 pages. 

 Three volumes of observations, made at the Naval ob- 

 servatory at Washington, have been published. The 

 observations for 1845 constitute a quarto volume of 550 

 pages, with 13 plates ; the observations for 1846 consti- 

 tute a quarto of 676 pages; and the observations for 

 1847 constitute a volume of 480 pages, accompanied by 

 44 plates, showing a series of observations of solar spots 

 by Professor Sestini, made at Georgetown observatory. 



In 1852 was published No. 1 of the " Annals of the 

 Georgetown Observatory," being a quarto volume of 

 216 pages, chiefly occupied with a description of the 

 building and instruments. 



