294 ' Scientific Intelligence. 
“Observatory, Ann Arbor, Michigan, 1864, Jan, 13. 
GENTLEMEN? 
I have the pleasure to inform you that I discovered a new comet on 
the evening of Saturday, Jan. 9th, at 64 o’clock. I have observed the 
following accurate positions : 
Ann Arbor M. T. Comet a. Comet 6. 
1864, Jan. 10, 65 57m 7s 19h 14m 33-37 +34° 6 59 
ti. > Ao 57 iv. it. 10. aL 34 52 52 2 
5 RS aon 19° 20 «83°35 35 42 47:0 
From these places I have derived the following elements of the orbit: 
T1863, Dec. 27-1413 Washington M. T. 
at— 60° 17! 39-0 : 
 Q=304 40 49-0 App. equinox, Jan. 11th. 
+— 68 38 
log g== 9°885810 
Motion direct 
The comparison of the middle’place gives: 
C.—0. 
Ai cosB=—2"9 ABm— 150 
The comet is large and bright, with a tail 14° in length, and a nt- 
by subsequent observations. Very truly yours 
oe NY YO" FAMES 0. WATSON" 
This comet was barely visible to the naked eye during the latter part 
of January, and in a comet-seeker exhibited a tail about 2° in a 
. Notes on 4 Argus ; by F. Assort, Esq. (from ior me 
Astronomical Society, Nov. 13, 1863.)—That the duration of this star's 
apparition is variable to a great extent is certain; and by comparing 
present description with the monograph of Sir J. Herschel, taken at Cape 
of Good Hope, it will, I think, appear conclusive that the apparition . 
the surrounding nebule is also variable. “a 
Messier recommended careful observations to be made on such objects 
with a view to ascertain whether or not any indications ers 
| u from 
which Sir Wm. Herschel, by his own observations from 1783 to tt: ; 
ilar oe 
maintained the same opinion in reference to the nebule in <) 
and of later date, Bond, Pogson, Struve, D’Arrest, and others, have © 
served such changes. i 
_ Sir John Herschel, when at the Cape, carefully examined 7 Argus Abs ; 
an 18-inch ‘reflector; “No part of this nebula,” says Herschel, “820% 
