September 14, 191 1] 



NATURE 



373 



with that of two 5-9-magnilude stars near to it, and on 

 September 1 1 Mr. Rolston found that it was as conspicuous 

 as f Draconis. 



From later observations, August 19, 21, and 24, Dr. 

 Kobold has calculated improved elements and an 

 ephemeris, which he publishes in the supplement named, 

 and from which we take the following : — 

 Elements. 



T =1911 October 2776235 (M.T. Berlin) 



* =152' 44 17 7" I 



a =293' 10' 6-i" 191 1 o 



i = 34° °' 2 '3" J 

 1 g ,: =9-690358. 



Ephemeris 12/1. Berlin M.T. 



i(lrue) 



i (true) 



9 7ij6 ... 49 

 97152 ... 4-8 



+ 57 97 



+ 56 40-5 



+ 55 5f5 



+ 54 42't 



+ 53 '6-8 



+ 51 371 



+ 49 447 



+ 47 4i 9 



+ 45 3°'° 



On the accompanying chart we show the approximate 

 apparent path of the comet among the stars for the next 

 month. 



0-0396 

 0-OII3 

 9-9808 

 9-9482 



log . 



9-7171 



5'' 



97214 



4 7 



9-9132 ... 97321 ... 45 



Appar 



: Path of Brooks's Com< 





» October 15, iqr 



From the ephemeris it will be seen that the comet is 

 nearest to the earth about September 17, when its distance 

 will be about 48 million miles. In calculating the magni- 

 tude, Dr. Kobold has taken 60 on August 26 as his 

 fiducial point, and from opera-glass observations made on 

 that date we believe that his figure probably errs in the 

 direction of making the comet too faint, so that we may 

 expect to see a fourth-magnitude object at the beginning 

 of October. 



Variability of Polaris. — Numerous observers have 

 suspected a Ursae Minoris to be a variable star, and several 

 periods have been found for its variation, but a lack of 

 agreement has left the question somewhat undecided. As 

 a result of a very large piece of observational work, how- 

 ever, Dr. Ejnar Hertzsprung finds that the pole star is a 

 variable of the 8 Cephei type having an amplitude of 

 0-171 +0-OI2, and a period of 3-9681 days. The grating 

 method described in Astronomische Nachrichten No. 4452 

 was employed, the first- and second-order images of Polaris 

 being compared for density with the image of a neighbour- 

 ing star. Observations were made on fifty nights, 41S 

 plates being secured with four exposures on each, and the 

 results are tabulated in the paper in No. 4518 of the 

 Astronomische Nachrichten. Dr. Hertzsprung also shows 

 that Tolaris has other attributes of a Cepheid variable. 



Observations of Mars. — A telegram from Prof. Lowell, 

 published in No. 4521 of the Astronomische Nachrichten, 

 announces that photographs of the Martian canals were 

 secured on August 30. 



In the same journal M. Jarry Desloges makes some pre- 



NO. 2185, VOL. 87] 



liminary remarks concerning his observations of the planet 

 during the present opposition. The seeing generally has 

 not been good, although latterly he has been able to use 

 a power of 500, and has had moments of absolute calm. 

 The Mare Cimmerium, among other features, is still very 

 pale and difficult to see during Martian morning. The 

 gulf which formed on Zephyria in 1909 is still visible, and 

 a bright area has been detected on its interior. Aonius 

 Sinus is sharply outlined, but the whole region of the Solis 

 Lacus, although well placed for observation, is lacking in 

 colour ; the lake itself is double, or greatly constricted 

 across its median line, as in 1907 and 1909. A number of 

 " canals " appear as broad bands with indefinite edges, and 

 are quite easy to see despite the great distance of the 

 planet; Cyclops, Cerberus, Laestrygon, Titan, Araxes, 

 Coprates, and Bathys are among these, and the last named 

 is more easily seen than in 1907, although the planet was 

 much nearer then. Many bright spots, e.g. Elysium, 

 /Eolis, Zephyria, Memnonia, Tharsis, &c, are visible, but 

 the southern polar cap is very small and at times difficult 

 to distinguish, appearing as though it were veiled. 



UNIVERSITY AND EDUCATIONAL 

 INTELLIGENCE. 



The University of Edinburgh has just instituted two 

 degrees in veterinary science, viz. bachelor and doctor. 



A State college of forestry has been established at 

 Syracuse University, and the sum of 55,000 dollars has 

 been appropriated for it. 



Dr. Fraser Harris, at present lecturer on physiology 

 in the University of Birmingham, has been appointed pro- 

 fessor of physiology in the Dalhousie University, Halifax, 

 Nova Scotia. 



Mr. E. D. Sanderson, dean of the college of agriculture 

 at West Virginia University, has been appointed to succeed 

 Mr. J. H. Stewart in January next as director of the 

 experiment station. He will continue to fulfil the duties 

 of dean. 



Elementary courses of medical study, both theoretical 

 and practical, have been arranged by the authorities of 

 Livingstone College, Leyton, E., for those about to engage 

 in missionary work. Particulars of the course, and the 

 " Mrs. Bishop exhibition," can be obtained from the prin- 

 cipal of the college. The session begins on October 2. 



At the jubilee celebration of the University of 

 Christianta, the honorary degree of doctor was conferred 

 upon the following British representatives : — Prof. Alfred 

 Marshall; Sir Thomas Barlow, Bart., K.C.V.O., F.R.S. ; 

 Sir J. Rose Bradford, K.C.M.G. ; Prof. Sir W. Osier, 

 Bart., F.R.S. ; Rev. Prof. A. H. Sayce ; Dr. H. Sweet; 

 Prof. Sir James Dewar, F.R.S. ; Dr. H. A. Miers, F.R.S. ; 

 Sir John Murray, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Prof. Sir William 

 Ramsay, K.C.B., F.R.S. ; Prof. W. J. Sollas, F.R.S. ; and 

 Prof. Sir J. J. Thomson, F.R.S. 



The Board of Education has issued its regulations for 

 scholarships, exhibitions, &c, in science for the year 1912. 

 The awards for science to be made by the Board under 

 these regulations are identical with those formerly made 

 by the Board under the regulations for technical schools, 

 1909-10. The conditions for these awards in 1913 will be 

 modified. The subjects of the competitive examination will 

 remain the same, but the papers set will be of not more 

 than two standards corresponding with those of the new 

 scheme of general science examinations. The Board of 

 F.ducation is of opinion that further changes in the con- 

 ditions of award of Royal scholarships, free studentships, 

 and of Whitworth scholarships and exhibitions, may with 

 advantage be made later, but such alterations will not be 

 brought into operation without due notice being given. 



In the case of the Merchant Venturers' Technical College, 

 Bristol, in which the faculty of engineering of the Uni- 

 versity of Bristol is provided and maintained, the new- 

 calendar shows that the complete arrangements made last 

 vear are to govern the work next session, and that the 

 educational needs of every important industry of the ciH 

 have been borne in mind. It is interesting to notice that 

 several local firms have notified their willingness, other 

 things being equal, to give a preference to students who 



