14] ON THE ORBIT OF y VIRGINIS. 79 

 The following are the resulting elements : 



Inclination of the orbit to the plane of projection 25 27 



Position of the node 34 45 



Distance of perihelion from the node 284 53 



Angle of eccentricity 61 36 



Eccentricity 0'87964 



Perihelion passage 1 836 '34 



Period 174-137 yrs. 



The following table shews the differences between the observed positions 

 and those calculated from the above elements : 



A better agreement could scarcely be desired. The observations made 

 about the time of perihelion passage are liable to great errors in conse- 

 quence of the excessive closeness of the stars, and therefore I did not take 

 them into account in forming the equations of condition. 



Sir John Herschel was obliged to admit large differences between these 

 observations and the results of his theory, and these differences are con- 

 siderably increased by using my elements. I am inclined to think that 

 these observations cannot be satisfied without materially increasing the errors 

 on both sides of the perihelion passage. 



My elements agree very well with the latest observations which have 

 come to my knowledge, as is shewn by the following comparison : 



Observed Calculated 



Observer. Epoch. position. position. Differences. 



Lord Wrottesley, 1851-172 175 55 175 52 +3 

 Mr Dawes, 1851-217 17635 17549 +46 



Mr Fletcher, 1851-401 175 58 175 34 +24 



