Astronomy. 327 
From these observations Professor Newcomb has derived ‘he 
following approximate circular elements of the orbits. The 
able errors assigned are only very rough estimates. 
Ou te. 
Major semi-axis of apparent orbit seen at distance [9°5930]-.__82-75 40° "5 
Minor semi-axis of apparent orbit seen at distance [9°5930 eine Sk 2" 
—— semi-axis of orbit seen at t distance 
Position angles of apsides of bit 70° phot 
Passage through the west apsis V0 260°) Aug. 19, 16°6h, W. m 
Ti con ty 30h ee +2m 
Hourly mo n Areocentric longitude 11°°907 
Inclination ep clas orbit to ‘oi ecliptic 25°44 2° 
ngitude of ascending ni 82-°8 + 3° 
Position of pole of orbit i in celestial sphere. ..-- Long. 352°°8 
Lat. +64°6 
oA SEG! 
Decl. +53°8 
1 
Th Bae 3,090,000 
ese elements gave for the mass of Mars 3,090,000 
tele 
Major poertre 7 of the gantony orbit at distance ¥ 5930]-- ens "0+1 
P wiser of revolution: 2: =--<u- 38° ae 5m 
Hour on in ie reocentric longitude --.._-....------ 
Pruaeet Cronah the eastern apsis (p= - 0°), Aug. 20, 13-0h, W. mn. t. 
The American. tii ge and Nautical Almanac for the 
within aheos days from the date of _ first ee Professor 
Newcomb found the period to be seven hours d thirty-eight 
minutes, On os theory, therefore, of a circular orbit the — 
is within 3400 miles of the planet’s surface. Professor Hall r 
marks that the diameters of bee _— satellites are extremely 
age probably not more than 5 100 miles. It is interesting 
o observe that even with the wanes limit the bodies are smaller 
< reteisin with their primary than any other ip eng in 
the solar system. Accor ing to Proctor, Mars revolves on its 
three orbital revolutions in less sm a Martial day. How is this 
remarkable fact to be reconciled with the cosmogony of betes ? 
Although the period of no other madeline is less than that of the 
~—— of its primary, the case can hardly be regarded as wholly 
u e rings of Saturn are clouds of extremely minute sec- 
sa planetoids revolving about the primary in approximate 
accordance with Kepler’s third law. The periods of those in the 
outermost ring, like that of the exterior satellite of Mars, are 
m 
