IN FORT WILLIAM, 8zC, 7<J 



iperfion, it was confiderably broader and redder than at 

 firft, and the light was not fo ftrong as before. 



Thisfupports the fuppofition of an atmofphere round 

 the moon, though it does not extend to any great dis- 

 tance. It has been doubted, and is, I believe, not yet 

 ablblutely admired. But our atmofphere may be 

 doubted by an inhabitant of the moon; for if to its 

 greateft extent, fuppofed 45 miles, it were of the fame 

 denfity as at the furface of the earth, which is not the 

 cafe, it would not fubtend a minute, as the earth is 80OO 

 miles in diameter, and the greateft parallax only 62'. 



1777, 16th May, an Appulfe of the Moon to \, Scorpii. 



Apparent Time correct. 



) Weft limb paffed the meridian - 7-59 50,1 



y Scorpii do. - 8.00.02,1 



By the arch of the tranfit inftrument, the ftar was 10' 

 from the limb. 



1779, ijl May, an Appulfe of the Moon to Mars 

 and Saturn. 



Having brought the Moon's limb to run along a wire 

 of declination, 



Apparent Time correct. 

 h , 



The eaftern limb paffed the vertical wire 10.23.09,5 

 Saturn paifed the fame - 10.23.21 5 



Saturn did not come within the fcaleof the micrometer. 



For the right Afcenfions, 



Apparent Time correct. 



h . tt 

 Mar% ■ 12.55.42 



Saturn y Paffed the meridiajn at 56.34 



^Eaftern limb J 57.36 



D fiances 



