Astronomical Notes. 281 



6 h. 49 min. 15 s., Dec, ;^2 cleg"., 15 min., which is near to 

 the star " Theta," Gemimorum, of the 4th mag"., of a 

 yellowish white colour. The spectrum taken at Greenwich 

 on the 15th was similar to that of other new stars which 

 have previously appeared. Tt began to fade very quickly, 

 as is usual with this class of objects. On May the 20th its 

 light had gone down to the 8th mag. 



We consider that it is very probable that new stars which 

 Hash suddenly out from time to time are the result of a 

 chemical union of nebulous or gaseous matter. Were the 

 incandescence that we see the result of a collision between 

 solid bodies, it would not cool so quickly, and would retain 

 its brightness for a longer period. 



Eclipse of the Moon. 



On the evening of the 1st of April there was a partial 

 eclipse of the moon, when a little less than a fifth of the 

 moon's diameter was in the shadow. This eclipse was seen 

 under favourable conditions. Nothing unusual was noted. 



There is one point in regard to the moon about which 

 I would like to say a few words, that is in regard to its 

 revolution on its axis. Nearly, if not all, writers on the 

 subject tell us that the moon revolves on its axis in exactly 

 the same time that it takes to complete one revolution round 

 the Earth, and that this is the reason why the same side is 

 always turned towards us. It seems to our mind if this were 

 really so that it would be a phenomenon of inconceivable 

 accuracy. 



We maintain that the moon does not revolve on its own 

 axis, in the common acceptation of the language ; that it has 

 no axis or axle of its own ; but being bound to the Earth by 

 a bond of gravitation the same as a filly of a wheel is bound 

 to the nave by a spoke ; and that the axis of the moon is really 

 the axis of the Earth. 



Let us suppose that the centre of gravity in the moon is 

 not in the centre of the mass, and that the invisible bond of 

 gravitation (which holds the moon in its orbit) has one end 

 at the centre of gravity in the moon, and its other end at 

 the centre of the Earth, it will then be clear that the axis of 



