290 Scientific Intelligence. 
Elements of Comet III, 1861; by H. P. Tutti. 
Perihelion pemge, Dec. 7-2024. M. T..Gr. 
log 
9°923922 
178° 27" 42"-7 
a 145 7 59-4 M. eq. 18620 
a 41 
io rograde 
Mot et % 
From observations of Dec. 28th, Jan. 1st, 4th, and 7th. 
copic comets. This is its ical ides when far distant from the sun. 
It soon acquired greater consistency and even exhibited an almost spark- 
ling nucleus. It was for some time visible to the naked eye, and showed 
a respectable tail 1° in length. ‘ 
ost interesting peculiarity was a very decided ae of its 
siblbeity on the side towards the sun, constituting a faint tail, as it 
were, opposed to the normal direction. oe was formed a long - 
ore the true tail made its appearance. It is by no means a new Je 
ture, as it is mentioned in its preceding apparitions by Struve, Schwabe 
Wichman and others. In 1848 and en in 1852 it was particular ¥ 
evident. The fact of its repetition in so many fhatatices gives a kin me 
plies to this comet, distinguishing it from most bodies of its ¢ aa 
interesting from its associations with its otherwise vert 
¢ 
ia va of Harvard College, Jan. 3d, 1862. d 
Shoo Stars of January 2, 1862.—In Connecticut, a cold me 
blew Wann during most of the night of January 1-2, 1862, a . 
others somewhat less luminous. Shooting stars appeared moreover 1, 
pg wee pis and were noticed by this ee for an hour sont 
a ey were very numerous and at times as mavy 
three 3 aaete were seen. They passed from soa to south, i oe 
ing most thickly near the zenith. I have not succeeded in ascerta) 
that this phenomenon was observed by any one else. «afer 
It is not easy to interpret the luminous clouds above reported, 9 it 
what was the actual number of shooting stars visible j in a thé sky at - 
ford during this hour. The statement adds ho cath new lel - his 
probability, that the 2d of January is one of the mete oe 
valuable Catalogue des Principales Apparitions a’ Etoiles Filan i - 
russels in 1839, Mr. A. Quetelet cites two instance ~ 
these Ayecee have been reported as uncommonly numerous oD sie se a 
ing of the 2d of January, viz. in 1835 and 1838 in Sina tli 
his 2d edition (1841,) he adds two other cases, viz. in 
9 Finland and in 1840 in Belgium. In 1825, Morea . ‘ets A 
was seen in Tuscany, Italy, and on the aa nigh num 
and after it appeared, falling stars were seen there os lished 
see lirnes Bull. de Sci. Math., Mai, 1825.) Ina paper 
5 AM 
