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166 Astronomical Notes for 1913. 



Astronomical Notes for 1913. 



By John Rutherford of Jarding-ton. 



There were three partial eclipses of the sun, and two total 

 eclipses of the moon, all invisible here. There is not much to 

 record in connection with the Planets of our system during- the 

 year. Our neighbour " Mars," during the later months was 

 in a conspicuous position in the sky near to " Castor and 

 Pollux," in Gemini; " Neptune " was in the same constella- 

 tion in December; " Saturn " was in the adjoining constella- 

 tion " Taurus," although the earth is at present moving 

 away from this planet, and Saturn is becoming fainter. The 

 ring system is well open and there is good opportunity for 

 its observation. 



Six Comets were discovered during the year (all 

 telescopic) : — 



The first, 1913a, was discovered by M. A. Schaumasse, 

 of Nice Observatory, on the morning of the 7th of May, near 

 Delta, " Delphini." It was about the loth magnitude, a 

 faint nebulous object, without any sign of a tail. 



1913b was discovered by the Rev. J. H. Metcalf, Win- 

 chester, Massachusetts, on the 2nd of September, in the con- 

 stellation " Auriga." It was about the loth magnitude. 



1913c was discovered by — . Neujmin, Pulkova Observa- 

 tory, St Petersburg, on the 6th of September, in the constella- 

 tion " Pisces," about the loth magnitude. 



1913d, the fourth Comet of the year, was discovered by 

 M. Delavan, assistant at the La Plata Observatory, Argentine 

 Republic, on the 27th of September, in the constellation 

 " Aquarius," about loth magnitude. It increased in bright- 

 ness until it could be seen with a field glass. This turned out 

 to be " Westphal's Comet," which has a period of 61 years. 

 It was a conspicuous object to the naked eye in 1852. 



The fifth Comet (e) was discovered on the 23rd of October 

 by Herr Zinner, assistant at Bamberg Observatory, Bavaria. 

 It was in the constellation " Aquila." I believe this turned 

 out to be Giacobini's short period comet, which was origin- 

 ally discovered in 1900, 



