TRANSIT ADJUSTMENT. ^5 



The advantage of this melliod is, that you rely upon the Advantages. 

 Hars keeping ^%% of the time, which would otherwife be kept jf ^tpf by 11!^' 

 by the clock or watch ; and it is of no confequence whether ftars, and not 

 the obfervations follow one another on the fame day or week, ''y ^^^ cl''*!^. 

 provided the inftrument is adjufted to the fame point of the 

 horizon, previous to obfervation, for there is little or no s 



difference in their preceffion, &c. during an interval of a 

 <nonth, r.vjiio 



Another advantage is, that the obfervations follow each The flioitln*. ♦ 

 other fo foon, that you are not likely to be difappointed by ^f^nlTc^nie 

 change of weather ; for each pair of obfervations is complete of weathcrj &c, 

 as far as it goes, which is not /the cafe in the other method, 

 which requiring an interval of twelve hours between each 

 obfervation, a change of weather is more likely to take 

 place, 



A tranfit inftrument is the bafis of aftronomy, and whoever Other ufeful 

 has the fixing of it Ihould confider himfelf independant of "">"'''• 

 every previous obfervation, and aSing entirely upon prin- 

 ciple, which is not the cafe where the adjuftment is by previ- 

 OLifly obferved right afceniion, and which require reducing to 

 (he day of obfervation; indeed nicely reduced right afcen- 

 fions are not always in the liands of thofe who may be with to 

 be in poflelfion of a fimpie and accurate method of placing a 

 tranfit inftrument precifely in the meridian. 



This method was devifed and ufed by me fince 1794-, but 

 I have never read or heard of any one ufing the fame. 



J. S. B. 

 N, B. Proper ftars in this Lat. are, 



a Cafs. and £ Urfas Majoris. 

 i3 Cafs. and ^ Urfae. 

 y Cafs. and t Urfa;. 

 Alfo the ftars of Draco and Auriga; 

 Cepheus and Urfa, 

 Perfeus and Draco. 

 A large comet was difcovered at the Royal Obfervatory A large wmet. 

 Bee. 8, which pafled the meridian at 6.* si." 7. mean time. 

 Obferved right afcenfion was - 353** 6' 41" 

 Declination fouth - - ... 23° 41' 8" 

 *^* I have fince heard that this comet was not again feen, 

 but is fuppofed to have proceeded fouthward. — ^N. 



A Com* 



