ANNOUNCEMENT OF ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES. . 699 



This " wonderful " star is expected to be bright again in May, this year ; in April, 

 1884; March, 1885; February, 1886, and so on — about a month earlier each 

 year. And now, may we not reasonably infer that the new stars of 1572, 1604, 

 etc., are but variable stars of long periods, and will brighten up into visibility at 

 their appointed times ? A telescopic star has long existed nearly or quite where 

 Mr. Brahe saw his brilliant star in 1572 ; but whether it is the identical star is 

 rather uncertain. 



Cassiopeia is on the opposite side of the North Star from the Great Dipper, 

 and nearly as far. It may be known by three stars in the form of a triangle, and 

 one above (as seen in the evening at this time of year). The place where Tycho's 

 star appeared is just to the right of the triangle, nearly in the point that would 

 fill out the square. There is, indeed, one or two small stars in that corner, or 

 region, which may be seen when the sky is clear and there is not too much 

 moonlight. Make yourself familiar with these stars; and the new star, or its ap- 

 parition, may be easily recognized when it does appear. 



Spiceland, Ind., March 8, 1883. 



ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES. 



For several years the Smithsonian Institution has done valuable service in 

 collecting and distributing information of discoveries and phenomena that require 

 immediate and wide-spread investigation. This labor was undertaken and con- 

 tinued because there seemed to be no other way by which the want could be 

 filled. But the need of a more speedy and accurate system has been strongly 

 felt, and has resulted in the transference of the work to Harvard College Obser- 

 vatory. Mr. John Ritchie, Jr , of Boston, has been appointed to take charge of 

 this service, and it is he that has mapped out the details of the scheme. The 

 plans include European as well as American observatories. An association of 

 about fifty European observatories has recently been formed for the same pur- 

 pose, and this association has requested Harvard College Observatory to cooper- 

 ate with it and forward information of American discoveries. As there is also 

 cable connection between Europe and South Africa, South America, and Aus- 

 tralia, the system is quite complete, and may be looked to as a means of facilitat- 

 ing the work of the astronomer. 



The outline of the plan, as taken from the circular, is as follows : Discov- 

 erers of asteroids, comets, suspected comets, or of any celestial phenomenon de. 

 manding immediate attention are requested to telegraph at once to " Harvard 

 College Observatory, Cambridge, Mass." Such announcements will be at once 

 cabled to Dr. Krueger, Kiel, Germany, and by him distributed to the European 

 Union. They will also be distributed in this country in three ways — i. Through 

 the Associated News Companies; 2. By special circulars of the Science Observer ; 

 3. By special telegrams. 



The first two of these methods are already in successful operation and need no 



