134 Scientific Intelligence. 
Of the 66 asteroids whose orbits have been computed, 16 have their 
oll —~ requires. 
. The Comet discovered by Mr. Thatcher—On the evening of April 
“ih, 1861, a comet was discovered by Mr. Albert E. Thatcher, an amateur 
observer in the city of New York. The discovery was made with a tele- 
scope of 6 feet focus, and 4} inches aperture, made by Mr. Fitz, The 
comet was found in the head of Draco, in R. A, about 175 33™ and N, 
Dec. 56°. On the morning of April 6th, Mr. Thatcher reported the dis- 
covery to Mr. Fitz, and on the evening of the same day Mr. Fitz found 
it with a comet seeker of 7} inches aperture; after which he went to Mr. 
Rutherford’ observatory, and found i t with Mr, me telescope. 
The comet was nearly circular. ty diameter was about 2’, and it 
was somewhat condensed at the centre. Its place at 13h Pdi time, 
April 6th, as determined by Mr. Rutherford, was A. R. 175 24™ 5953; 
Dec. 56° 42/57” N. The place of the comet .was determined again at the 
same observatory, April 7th, bie 10th, 20th, 26th, ete. On the 10th of 
April, the brightness of the co et had increased, the nucleus was ill defined, 
and its diameter about 5’. cet 26th the comet was visible to the naked 
most of the month of ag the comet was visible to the naked eye as a 
star of the third magnitu 
t the Washington vant the comet was observed April 10th, 
at 10h 10™ 208°6 mean time, in R. A. 17h 7m 568-71, Dec. + 59° 26" 
13°53, At the Cambridge Observatory the comet was also observed 
_— ss 11th, 14th, 18th and onward. 
met was seen in London by Mr. Parkin, April 29th, and on the 
night “of “May Ist with the naked eye. 
he monthly notices of the Royal Astronomical Society, published 
May 13th, contain the announcement of the disco ae of this comet by 
Mr. serge but without any intimation of its o been seen in 
any part of Europe before the 29th of April. It is Eosdainad therefore 
that Mr. Thatcher was the first discoverer of this body. 
The elements of this comet have been computed trom the Cambridge 
observations of April 10th, 18th and 29th by Mr. T. i. Safford, sank 
at the Cambridge Observator y, as follows: 
yo 1861. a 2'8672 m. t. Washington, 
log. q. 996488 
ab? AORGE Re ene fee 2-70 
J) 4 29 47°45 >} Mean eq. 1861°0. 
t - 62 
Motion direct. 
The preceding elements do not bear ar very close resemblance to those 
of any comet hitherto observed. According to these elements, the comet 
on the 11th of May passed so near the earth’s orbit as to include it in its 
atmosphere; the gee a from the earth being at that time a 
thirty-six millions of m 
