105 



OBSERVATIOlSrS OF COMET OF JTJLY AND ATiarST, 

 1889, TAKEN AT LAUNCESTON, TASMANIA, 

 LAT. 4F 26' 01" ; LONG. 9° 48' 31" EAST. 



By A. B. Biggs. 



The comet was first observed here on 26th July, faintly- 

 visible without telescope. Tail about Ideg. in length, its 

 position angle estimated at 140° ^^. Nucleus, sharp, and 

 starlike, about 7 mag., surrounded with considerable nebu- 

 losity. Position (approximately) R.A., 13hrs. 21^min. S. 

 Dec. 23° 07'. (This and the position readings given below 

 were merely the readings of the rough home-made circles of 

 the equatorial, and make no pretension to exactness.) The 

 star comparison measures were all taken with a Bar Micro- 

 meter, equilateral triangle, and are apparent difference 

 measures only, uncorrected for refraction, etc. Owing to 

 persistent cloudy and unsettled weather, very few oppor- 

 tunities for star measures were afforded. Circle readings for 

 position were taken as often as opportunity offered. 



Telescope. — Reflector, 8|in., silver on glass by Browning. 



Notes and References. — August 2. a. — 104 Virg. (?) 

 h. — About 7 mag., close to a small nebula, " 70 " (Proctor's 

 Atlas), looking like a detached wisj) of the comet, c. — A 

 minute star (lO'llm.). 



August 3 

 „ 17 



d " — Not identified, each 7m.,+^ 



•Brightness of nucleus, about 8m. 

 „ „ — Tail estimated about 10' length. 

 „ „ — „ Position angle, 120°j+^ 



N.B. — The brightest star available always selected, except 

 as to h, August 2, on account of proximity to nebula. 



