4^ Mr, Hf'RsciiEL's Catalogue 



J. firfl fufpcifled a feparation ; and November 13th, fairly 



faw a divifion between them. April 4, 1783, with an 

 improved refledor of 20 feet 3 inches focal length and 

 12 inches aperture, I faw them evidently divided. Por- 

 tion 20"* 54' f. following*. 



2^. Fl. 90 Leonis. Infra edu£i:ionem caudas. 



Fe^j. 9. Treble. The two nearefl: — very unequal. L. w. ; 



1782. S, rw. With 2y8, i^ diameter of L; with 4*^0, \\ 



diameter of L. Pofition with 278, 61° 9' f. preceding. 



The two farthefl: — very unequal. S. dufky r. Dif- 



tance from L. 53'^ 43^'^ Pofition '^^'^ 12' f. preceding. 



28. y Leonis. Fl 41. In coUo lucida. 



Feb. II. A beautiful double ftar. Pretty unequal. L. w. ; 



1782. S. w. inclining a little to pale red. With 227 and 278 



diftinLlly feparated ; with 460, 4 diameter of S. j with 



625, I diameter; with 932, full I diameter, or when 



* i fufpe<5t thefe ftars to recede from each other. It is, however, very 

 poffible, that the opening which I obferved between them, at the latter end 

 of the year 1782 and beginning of 1 783, may be owing to very favoura- 

 ble weather, or to my being better acquainted with the obje£l. Could we 

 increafe our power and diflin£lnefs at plcafure, we might undoubtedly fcparatc 

 any .two ftars that are not abfolutely in a direft line palTing through the eye of the 

 obferver, and the centers of both the ftars. This will appear when we confider 

 that perhaps 59 thirds out of one fecond, which the diameter of the ftar may 

 fubtend, are fpurious ; fo that a double ftar feemingly in contact, or even partly 

 hiding each other in appearance, may ftillbe far enough alunder to admit of a fair 

 and confiderable feparation by applying an adequate magnifying power. It would 

 have been curious, if a confiderable difference in the colours could have led us to 

 difcover which of the two ftars is before the other ! But the far greateft part of 

 their apparent diameters being, as we have obferved, fpurious, it is probable, that 

 a different coloured light of two ftars would join together, where the rays of one 

 extend into thole of the other ; and io, producing a third colour by the mixture 

 of it, ftill leave the queftion undecided. 



beft 



