174 



Foreis;n Literature and Science. 



18. Action of the Moon on the Atmosphere. — The Bib, 

 Univ. for Dec. 1827, contains a valuable memoir on this sub- 

 ject by M. Flaugergues, astronomer at Viviers in France. 

 The author observes that many geometricians, have been 

 engaged in researches on the action of the moon upon the 

 barometer, but that their labors have not been attended with 

 very satisfactory results. Nor have the labors of meteorolo- 

 gists been much more successful. The observations of some 

 of these are contradictory and irreconcilable with each oth- 

 er. Several have inferred that the barometer is higher du- 

 ring the time the moon is in perigee than when she is in apo- 

 gee; and others, that the mean height is greater in the sy- 

 zygies than in the quadratures; but other observers, have 

 drawn opposite conclusions. The results of different years 

 do not correspond. The fault may in many cases have lain 

 in the instruments, which for want of proper care and man- 

 agement are liable to deteriorate. Considering also the ma- 

 ny irregularities, which attend the moon's motion, it is only 

 by a long series of observations, that correct and satisfacto- 

 ry deductions can be formed. The author describes at 

 length the instruments he employed, and the precautions 

 which he observed to ensure accuracy in his observations. 

 He extended his researches throughout a whole Saras or lu- 

 nar cycle, and sums up the result as follows : — 



Table of the mean heights at noon, of the barometer, at the observatory of 

 Viviers, in the phases of the Moon, in the Apogee and Perigee of that 

 luminary, and in the lunisticcs ,• deduced from the meridian observations 

 of nineteen years, (I9th Oct. 1808— 18th Oct. 1827.) 



LUNAR POINTS. 



Number 



of 

 observa- 

 tions. 



Mean 

 heights of 

 the barom- 

 eter 



Keduc- 

 tion to 

 millime- 

 tres. 



Mean general height, . . - 

 Conjunction, or new Moon, 



First Octant, 



First quadrature, - - - - 



Second Octant, 



Opposition, or full Moon, - - - 



Third Octant, 



Second quadrature, - . - - 

 Fourth Octant, .... 



Northern Lunistice, - - - - 

 Southern Lunistice, ... 



Moon in Perigee, (Parall. equa. 60' 24") 

 Moon in Apogee, (Parall equa. 54' 4" 



6915 

 234 

 234 

 234 

 235 

 234 

 234 

 234 

 235 

 258 

 258 

 252 

 252 



pou. lig. 

 27 11.29 

 27 11.27 

 27 11.26 

 27 11.26 

 27 10.94 

 27 11.20 

 27 11.47 

 27 11.68 

 27 11.31 

 27 11.42 

 27 11.28 

 27 10.97 

 27 11.46 



m. m. 

 755.44 

 755.39 

 755.37 

 755.37 

 754.65 

 755.23 

 755.70 

 756.32 

 755.48 

 755.73 

 755.42 

 754.72 

 755.82 I 



