4"^ Mr. PIerschel's Catalogue 



L fiiil: ful^dled a feparation ; and November 13th, fairly 



favv a divlfion between them. April 4, 1783, with an 

 improved refle<Slor of 20 feet 3 inches focal length and 

 1 2 inches aperture, I faw them evidently divided. Pofi- 

 tion 20° 54^ f. following*. 



27. Fl. 90 Leonis. Infra edu6lion?^m can die. 



Feb. 9. Treble. The two nearefl: — very unequal. L. w. ; 



1782. S. rw. With 278, 1^ diameter of L; with 460, \\ 

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

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

 tance from L. 53'^ 43^'^ Pofition 2,S^ ^'^' ^- preceding. 



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



Feb. II. A beautiful double fl:ar. Pretty unequal. L. w. ; 



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



dillincVly feparated ; with 460, ~ diameter of S. j with 



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



* I fufpeft thefe ftars to recede from each other. It is, however, very 

 pofTible, 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 iavoura- 

 bb weather, or to my being better acquainted with the object:. Could we 

 increafe our power and dillinftnefs at pleafure, we might undoubtedly fcparate 

 any two ftars that are not abfolutely in a dired line palnng through the eye of the 

 obferver, and the centers of both the l^ars. This will appear when we confidcr 

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

 fubtcnd, are fpurious ; fo that a double ftar feemingly in conta«5l, or even partly 

 hiding each other in appearance, may ftiil be far enough afunder to admit of a fair 

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

 hflve besn curious, if a confiderable diftercnce in the colours could have led us to 

 <li!ic.over which of the two ftars is before the other ! But the far greatelt part of 

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

 a different coloured light of two l^ais would join together, where the rays of one 

 extend into thofe of the other; and lo, producing a third colour i^y the mixture 

 of it, ftill leave the qneilion undecided. 



befl 



