36 B. A. Gould, Jr., on the Orbits of the Asteroids. 
the inclination is in both cases quite considerable, so that these 
must approach much nearer to their common node in order that 
such a ‘eistonl action may take place, than is necessary for the 
first mentioned pair. 
The table of longitudes i in the orbit shows whether at such an 
approach the planets would be visible, or Jost in the solar rays. 
Although the planes of ‘the Vesta and Flora orbits are inclined 
by so small an angle, yet at the point of nearest approach they 
are 0:222 distant from one another 
n the other hand we find that the following orbits, 
are and Astrea in Q Pallas an be in 
Hebe and Astreea in 3% _— and Hebe in Q 
Juno and Vesta in Q 
are at a distance nearly equal to eat of the earth from the sun, 
—but that this is for the different orbits in different nodes. 
mena from one another than the astronomical unit are, 
Iris and Pallas, 
Flora and Pallas, 
in stapes: nodes 
r to give a still clearer view of the situation of the as- 
texbidal orbits, I have stereographically projected the poles of all 
these planes of the several planet-orbits and of the sun’s equator 
‘upon the accompanying chart, on the preceding page. 
The observation of Dr. Olbers that the asteroids varied con- 
siderably in the intensity of their light, from day to day, seems 
to hold also for the newly discovered ones. In order to dete 
mine this definitely, and if eonfirmed.to find the periods, long 
series of observations are requisite. 
The investigations* of Gauss concerning the Zodiacs of the 
planets have rendered it comparatively easy to compute for every 
asteroid, the limits of its geocentric places. Gauss has done this 
for Ceres and Pallas,t and Prof. Goldschmidt for Iris,{ and caleu- 
lators will not be wanting to do the same for the other five. By 
this means the search for former observations is facilitated, sinee 
it has thus become possible, in the case of every missing star, to 
decide at the first glance whether any one of the asteroids can 
ever have been in that. place. 
* M.C.,x, 173. Ast. Nach., xvi, No. 614(?) + M.C.,ibid. + Ast. Nach., ibid. 
: Pe Nie out * 
