lo 



NA TURE 



[Algust 6, 1908 



OVR ASTRONOMICAL COLUMN. 



The Solar Eclipse of December 22-23, 1908. — In a 

 juile to No. 4264 of the Astronotnische Nachrichten (p. 271) 

 J'rof. W. Krebs points out that in certain localities in the 

 Antarctic regions the solar eclipse of December next will 

 be total, for a few seconds. At Bouvet Island, totality 

 iviU last for some eleven seconds, during which time. Prof. 

 Krcbs suggests, photographs of the corona might be 

 secured. This island is, however, very diflicult of access, 

 being situated a few degrees to the west of Cape Colony 

 and very near the Antarctic circle, well within the mean 

 limit of the drift ice; its longitude is about 55" E., and 

 ils latitude about 54° S. 



Observations of Perseids, 1907. — The results of the 

 observations of the Perseid shower at the Paris Observa- 

 lory on August 11, 13, and 14, 1907, are published, by 

 M. L. Ben^s, in the July number of the Bulletin de la 

 iiociete astrouomique de France (p. 326). 



Between gh. 50m. and I4h. 13m. (M.T. Paris) on 

 August II, one observer recorded the paths of tliirty-one 

 meteors, despite the interference of light clouds, which 

 probably prevented the fainter objects from being seen. 

 Clouds interfered more seriously on August 13, and only 

 four paths were recorded in a watch extending over the 

 ninety minutes before midnight. Sixteen meteors were 

 observed on August 14 during the intervals gh. 7m. to 

 I2h. im. and I2h. 26m. lo I3h. 21m. 



Of the thirty-one meteors seen on August 11, nineteen 

 were probably Perseids from a radiant at = 48°, 8=4-58°. 

 Three of those seen on August 13 and three seen on 

 August 14 were probably Draconids. The general colour 

 of the meteors was yellow or yellowish-red, and few of 

 them left trails. The trajectory of a Perseid seen on 

 August II showed a break in the middle. 



Micrometer Measures of Jovian Features. — In No. 

 4260 of the Astronotnische Nachrichten (p. 191, July 3) 

 Dr. H. E. Lnu gives the results obtained from his micro- 

 meter measures of the various features on Jupiter during 

 the most recent opposition. 



The measures of the Great Red Spot confirm the 

 diminution of the longitude of this feature, to which the 

 Rev. T. E. R. Phillips has already directed attention in 

 vol. xviii., No. 6, of the Journal of the British Astro- 

 nomical Association ; they also indicate that the Red Spot 

 belongs to the higher strata of the Jovian atmosphere. 

 The measures of other spots and of the various bands and 

 streaks are also given by Dr. Lau. 



Peculiar Orbit of a Spectroscopic Binary. — Observa- 

 tions made at the Dominion Observatory, Ottawa, indicate 

 that the orbit of the spectroscopic binary B.D. — i°-ioo4 

 has, probably, an even greater eccentricity than that (0-75) 

 of 1 Orionis, for which the elements were recently deter- 

 mined and published ; the velocity curve bears a striking 

 resemblance to that of the latter star, and the period is 

 about the same. Observations of B.D. — i°ioo4 are to be 

 resumed during the coming autumn (Journal R.A.S., 

 Canada, vol. ii., No. 3, p. 161). 



Definitive Elements for the Orrit of Comet 1886 V. 

 — Definitive elements for the orbit of comet 1886 V. have 

 been calculated by Herr Gbsta Bucht, Upsala, and are 

 published in No. 4264 of the Astronomische Nachrichten 

 ip- 257, July 20). The consideration of the least-square 

 residuals in each case establishes the fact that the orbit 

 is elliptical, the length of the semi-major axis being 

 ^4073 ± ■■017 ; the period of the comet is found to be 

 770-91 + 13 84 years. 



Astronomical Societies in the Provinces. — Nos. 3-7, 

 vol. X., of the Cambrian Natural Observer (February-June) 

 contain the record of the Astronomical Society of Wales 

 during the period they embrace. Among other articles of 

 interest we may mention one on solar spectroscopy, in 

 which General Lee gives a few practical hints to amateur 

 solar observers ; an article by Mr. Mce, in which he gives 

 brief descriptions of various large public clocks ; and a 

 paper by Miss G. Hagerty, dealing with various optical 

 phenomena. The records of local observers, and a descrip- 

 tion of the society's exhibition of instruments, photographs, 

 Src, at Cardiff, are also very interesting. 



The record of the Leeds Astronomical Society for 1907 

 NO. 2()2f,, VOL. 78] 



is contained in No. 15 of its Journal and Transactions, and 

 includes numerous papers of interest to amateur astro- 

 nomers. Among these may be mentioned a paper on the 

 transit instrument, by Mr. Spiegelhalter ; a review of 

 astronomical research in 1906 by the president, Mr. A. 

 Dodgson ; and a resume of the society's work during 1907. 

 Some supplementary notes on Tennyson's astronomy are 

 contributed by Mr. Whitmell. 



Bolides observed during May. — In No. 4261 of the 

 Astronomische Nachrichten (p. 223, July 13), M. C. Birken- 

 stock, of Antwerp, records the paths, &c., of three fire- 

 balls which he observed during May. One of these was 

 seen on May 17, the other two on May 27. Of those seen 

 on the latter date, the second appeared at i2h. 28m. 

 (G.M.T.), and was evidently a remarkable object. As 

 bright as Venus, its colour was reddish-yellow, and it left 

 behind it a trail of yellowish light ; the duration of the 

 flight was estimated by M. Birkenstock to be eight to 

 ten seconds, but other observers, reported in No. 7 of the 

 Gazette asironomique (p. 53, June 30), give four to six 

 seconds. The path was from 330°, 4-77°. to 268°, -|-io°, 

 and, according to the elements published in the latter 

 journal, the bolide travelled 114 km. at a speed of 

 14-25 km. per second ; the heights at the points of appear- 

 ance and disappearance were 115 km. and 62 km. re- 

 spectively. 



INSTITUTION OF MECHANICAL ENGINEERS. 

 T7OR the summer meeting of the Institution of 

 Mechanical Engineers at Bristol an interesting pro- 

 gramme of papers was arranged. The president (Mr. T. 

 Hurry Riches) and Mr. B. Reynolds described a sy.stem of 

 forced lubrication as arranged for driving axle-boxes of some 

 of the steam-cars of the Taft Vale Railway Company. Mr. 

 C. A. M. .Smith gave an account of a method of detecting 

 tlic bending of columns, for whicli purpose he has con- 

 structed a new type of instrument to which the name 

 " sphingometer " has been given. Mr. William Stagg 

 described the inclined retort coal- and coke-handling plant 

 at Bristol. 



An important paper on the evolution and methods of 

 manufacture of spur-gearing was contributed by Mr. T. 

 Humpage. He has designed an ingenious machine for 

 grinding the involute teeth of gear wheels, which works 

 on the principle of the bobbing machine. His idea is that 

 not case-hardened wheels only should be ground on this 

 machine, but every kind of metal should be ground in 

 the soft state, no matter for what purpose the wheels are 

 required. The wheels would be roughed out rapidly in 

 the gear bobbing machine with no attempt at finish, and 

 then sent to the grinding machine to be finished, just as 

 all lathe vi'ork that is required to be both accurate and 

 cheaply produced is first roughed out in the lathe and 

 then finished on the universal grinder. 



Lastly, Mr. S. O. Cowper-Coles read a paper on the 

 direct production of copper tubes, sheets, and wire by 

 elcctroh'sis from impure copper. The advantages of an 

 electrolytic process as compared to a smelting process are 

 manv, and the day is not far distant when copper will no 

 doubt be leached direct from the ore and electrolysed with 

 insoluble anodes, to produce finished copper sheets and 

 tubes in one operation direct from the ore without the 

 intermediate process of smelting and refining. 



The centrifugal process is a step in this direction, as 

 it is capable of depositing copper from its solutions by 

 using insoluble anodes in the form of finished tubes or 

 sheets in one operation. The centrifugal process is at least 

 ten times faster than any existing electrolytic process, 

 and a high current density can be employed without 

 deteriorating the quality of the copper. There is no risk 

 of lamination, as no burnishers are employed. The plant 

 is simple and free from mechanical complications, and the 

 amount of copper locked up for a given output is small 

 compared to other processes. The process is of interest 

 to mechanical engineers, as it conclusively proves that to 

 get a high tensile strength in metals, combined with 

 ductility, it is not essential to put a large amount of work 

 into the metals as hitherto has been considered necessary, 

 by the processes of swaging, rolling, or drawing, but that 

 a very small amount of energy will suffioe. 



