VOL. XII.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. SQl 



Afterward the cloudy time, both morning and evening, prevented any fur- 

 ther observations of the comet. ^ 



By these observations it appears that the comet at first was in the triangle, 

 afterwards near the head of Medusa ; and showing that it proceeded according 

 to the order of the signs by a line that was very near, and almost parallel to, 

 that which was described by the comet in Feb. ISQO. The magnitude of its 

 head, seen through the telescope, was almost equal to the disk of Jupiter, or 

 somewhat less. It did not appear perfectly round, but of an oval figure, the 

 longer diameter being parallel to the horizon ; which seemed to be owing to 

 the horizontal refraction. Its coma, seen through the telescope, was broad, 

 and nearly parabolical ; but to the naked eye it seemed narrow, and a little 

 inflected towards the west. 



The same Comet observed at Dantzic, by M. Hevelius. N° 135, p. 869, 871. 



Translated from the Latin, 



A comet has lately appeared which was first observed here at Dantzic, 

 April 27, in the morning. On the 28th it could not be seen for the clouds. 

 But on the 29th it arose, or rather appeared to sight, at 1*^ 52"^ in the 

 direction north-east by north. Its head was not large, but yet bright, con- 

 sisting of one shining nucleus, like that of the year 1665. It stretched out a 

 tail pretty luminous, with divaricating rays turned upwards, near 2° in length. 

 The line of direction of the tail produced passed between Alamac, the bright 

 foot of Andromeda, and her girdle, bisecting the distance between these two 

 stars. It was then above the head of Aries in the triangle, between the apex 

 and the northern star in the base, viz. in 5° of Taurus, and in 19° of north 

 latitude. At the same time its distance from the sun, according ,to longitude, 

 was only 5", but in its own great circle 20°. Since the comet was then so near 

 the sun, it could not show a longer tail, though I believe it had one much 

 longer, and in a few days it will probably appear still shorter. 



April 30, it was found in 9° of Taurus, and 1 8° north latitude, and nearly 

 as far from the sun, being in 12° of Taurus. It spread its tail again 2^ or more, 

 to the northern star in the base of the triangle, which star could plainly be seen 

 with good tubes at the end of the tail. — May 1, at 2^ 32"" in the morning, it 

 was found in 11° of Taurus, with 18" north latitude, nearly in conjunction 

 with the sun, from which it was distant as many degrees. Its tail was yet 

 pretty bright, but a little shorter, though broader, which it stretched out to 

 the bright foot of Andromeda. From April 29, when I first saw it, to this 

 day May 1, it passed over nearly 5° 30' in its own direction. 



As far as I can collect from these observations, it moves directly towards the 



