Sept. 24, 1 885 | 
NWA TORE 
517 
in the Austrian Triangulation, communicated a table calcu- 
lated by him, which would shortly be published, a table which 
materially lightened the approximate calculation of an eclipse 
for a particular spot on the surface, according to Oppolzer’s 
elements. 
Prof. Weiss then communicated the publication of the second 
volume of the Azma/s of the Vienna Observatory, and followed 
this up with the remark that the meridian circle, which was sixty 
years old, was now very much in need of repair; but, unfortu 
nately, there was no money at disposal for this purpose. 
After the President had o,ened the second sitting at ten 
o’clock on August 20, he communicated a report on the photo- 
graphic mapping of all the stars of the ‘* Bonner-Durch- 
musterung ” which Gill (of the Cape Observatory) had begun, 
and of which about roo plates were already to hand. The 
time taken for the exposure of each plate amounted on an 
average to one hour. 
After various deliberations of a more private character the 
discussion turned on Resolution VI. of the Meridian Conference of 
Washington. The President declared emphatically that the 
question could be considered in this assembly only from an 
astronomical standpoint. The question was simply whether it 
were desirable for the astronomer to transfer the beginning of 
the day to midnight, and to this question the discussion should be 
restricted. At the outset the President announced that the Com- 
mittee of the Society, with the exception of one member not 
present (Oppolzer)—that is, in the proportion of seven to one—had 
voted against the adoption of the proposal. 
Staatsrath Struve (from Pulkowa) at once opposed the 
restriction advanced by the President, which, he thought, 
involved a one-sided treatment of the matter. It was to their 
advantage, he asserted, not to seclude themselves from the rest 
of the world. Magnetic and meteorological observers, he said, 
counted their day from midnight. Many astronomers, more- 
over, he continued, worked by day, and most observations were 
made between six and twelve in the evening. The change was 
defended by men eminent in science. The reform assuredly 
met a deeply-felt want. The question was ‘‘ Should they make 
this sacrifice or not ?” 
Prof. Sporer, of Potsdam, mentioned that he always counted 
his observations from midnight. 
Prof. Newcomb, of Washington, spoke at considerable length 
on the question, and rather against than in favour of the adoption 
of the proposal of universal time. 
Prof. Weiss, of Vienna, was of opinion that the sacrifices 
demanded of astronomers by this reform were too great, and that 
the advantages were more than counterbalanced by the disad- 
vantages. He laid stress on the fact that astronomers were 
wont to make their calculation of time from the moment when 
the time-determining object—the spring point—the mean 
sun—passed the meridian. That was also the true point of 
commencement. The observations which were of interest to the 
public at large, might be given in universal time, whereas with 
their more esoteric observations they might adhere to the old 
reckoning. The astronomer should keep by himself, and pay 
no attention to claims of intercourse. 
Prof. Safarik, of Prague, said, ‘‘ Why should we make a 
sacrifice on behalf of the public that feels no concern with our 
labours ?” 
Prof. Kriiger, of Kiel, thought that altogether there were but 
few necessary points of relation between the astronomer and the 
public—points, however, which could be readily taken account 
of if the public desired it. 
Dr. Dunér, from Lund, argued that by a change of date it 
would be impossible not to make a sudden break in astronomical 
labours that had hitherto been carried on uninterruptedly, to 
whatever time of day or night the commencement of the day was 
transferred. He concluded by expressing his opinion that the 
sacrifices demanded were too great. 
Geheimrath Auwers expressed himself as personally opposed 
to the change, principally in order to avoid a discontinuity in 
the calculation of time which might, later on especially, lead to 
sensible errors. 
Prof. Bakhuyzen, of Leiden, was refused a hearing, because 
he wanted to speak of seamen, who have the reform specially at 
heart. 
Staatsrath Struve remonstrated against this proceeding, and 
argued that the question ought not to be treated onesidedly. At 
the Washington Conference seamen had the majority of repre- 
sentation, and opinion had there been almost unanimously 
expressed in fayour of the reform. 
desire of 
world. 
Prof. Gyldeén, of Stockholm, argued that the change must give 
rise to vexatious errors unless it were universally carried out on 
one line. As the realisation of this idea was, however, more 
than could be looked for at present, he would now have to vote 
against the universal time. He believed, nevertheless, that in 
twenty or thirty years hence the majority of astronomers would 
be in favour of the universal time. 
Prof. Tietjen, of Berlin, thought that in the Berlin Year- 
Book at all events, no such change would find place before 
1900. 
Staatsrath Struve maintained that in the Royal Astro- 
nomical Society the majority were in favour of the universal 
time. 
Dr. Pechule, of Copenhagen, was also of opinion that 
it would be well for astronomy to accommodate itself to 
the rest of ‘the world; but only when all were of one mind 
should the innovation be simultaneously and universally intro- 
duced. 
Prof. Folie, of Brussels, thought that in all reforms there 
were some stragglers, and in his opinion it was the duty of 
astronomers energetically to take the initiative in the good 
cause. 
After some recapitulatory observations of the President the 
discussion closed, No resolution whatever was passed on the 
subject. 
It may be worth while mentioning here in respect of this 
subject that in the reading of the protocol it was affirmed that 
all the members of the Committee who were present were opposed 
to the adoption of the universal time. Objecting to this declara- 
tion, Dr. Pechule stated that Prof. Gyldén had only voted 
against the zmediate adoption, while he entirely approved the 
principle of the proposed reform. The protocol had accordingly 
to be altered so as to give effect to this statement. 
The series of scientific addresses was resumed by Dr. Mittag- 
Leffler, from Stockholm, who communicated the mathematical 
prize exercises which, under the auspices of King Oscar II., had 
been instituted by a special Commission. 
Staatsrath Struve handed, for circulation, photographs of the 
great refractor of 30 inches aperture, which a short time ago 
had been mounted in Pulkowa, and expressed his complete 
satisfaction with the result. 
Prof. Newcomb had thoroughly studied the instrument for 
seven days continuously, and corroborated Staatsrath Struve’s 
views regarding the value of the instrument, entering into various 
details on the matter. 
Prof. Tisserand, of Paris, spoke of a purely theoretical 
examination of the rotation of the earth. 
Dr. Steinheil spoke on the calculations of Galileo’s telescopes 
of new construction. 
Prof. Sporer, of Potsdam, gave a somewhat long address on 
the new views regarding the physics of the sun. 
The following day was devoted to a common trip around the 
Lake of Geneva, Col. Emile Gautier, at present Director ot the 
Geneva Observatory, engaging at his own cost the saloon 
steamship Winkelrzed for this purpose, The dinner, which was 
served on board ship, gave opportunity for expressing the 
warmly-felt thanks of so many guests to their generous host for 
the entertainment he had provided them during the continuance 
of the Congress. 
On the last day of the meeting, Saturday, August 22, the pro- 
ceedings of a business character were brought toa close. The 
statutory order respecting the raising of the fee for life-1 ember- 
ship to 185 marks was adopted. As the place of meeting for 
1887, Kiel was fixed on. The new election of a committee made 
no change in its former composition. 
The scientific addresses were opened by Prof. Gyldén, who 
spoke of a graphic representation of planetary orbits. 
Prof. Newcomb followed with an address on perturbations and 
their numerical calculation. 
Prof. Bakhuyzen made communications respecting his treat- 
ment of Schroter’s observations of Mars. He came to the con- 
clusion that since Schréter’s time ‘‘Huggin’s Inlet” had 
probably changed considerably, whereby the hypothesis that 
Mars is in large pirt covered with fluid received material 
support. 
Dr. Miiller, of Potsdam, spoke on modern photometric 
apparatuses, and examined in particular those of Zollner, 
He was swayed by the 
rendering astronomy useful to the rest of the 
