CATALOGUE OF BINARY STARS. 205 



which I had originally prepared for my own use only, and 

 have included the results of the most recent observations 

 of several eminent astronomers, which they have been kind 

 enough to send me for the purpose. 



- This catalogue is intended to show at one view the 

 measures of the late Admiral Smyth, taken at the Bedford 

 Observatory during the years 1830 to 1842, and from 1843 

 to 1858 at the observatory of the late Dr. Lee, at Hart^^ 

 well ; also, on the authority of Smyth, some of the mea- 

 sures of the same objects by observers previous to 1830, 

 including Sir William HerschePs epochs from 1778 to 

 1802, Struve^s from 1819 to 1836, and some others. In 

 the columns, following the name of Admiral Smyth, will be 

 found the names of the Hev. W. R. Dawes, the E-ev. R. 

 Main, Mr. Knott, the Baron Dembowski, Madler, the Rev. 

 Father Secchi, Mr. Morton, and Mr. Talmage, with their 

 measures of position and distance. The names of the ob- 

 servers are arranged as nearly as possible in the order of 

 the dates of observation ; so that a glance from the first 

 name to the last on the list, under each particular star, 

 shows at once the changes which have taken place during 

 a period of about 90 years, and in some instances of more 

 than a century. 



In the cases of stars which are known to have passed 

 their perihelion, the dates are given : these dates are de- 

 rived from various sources ; and it must be remarked that 

 some computors give epochs which do not agree with those 

 inserted. The orbital periods are stated on the authority 

 of Admiral Smyth, and must in almost every instance be 

 taken as approximations only. 



The objects are arranged in the order of right ascension, 

 and the places of all those which have been observed by 

 Smyth are reduced to the epoch i865'o by using his pre- 

 cessions. There are, however, many objects in the cata- 

 logue which were not observed by Smyth. In aU these ex- 



