292 Scientific Intelligence. 
B...«..“ the longitude of the ascending node. 
t * the inclination of the orbit to the ecliptic. 
e $ the eccentricity of the orbit. 
ro . the mean daily motion. 
& “ the semi-major axis of the orbit. 
2. Note Explanatory of Baily’s Beads; by Eouunn Biurt—We 
have received from Mr. Blunt the following satisfactory illustration of the 
eause of the formation of beads and ruptures of the ring, etc., in an annu- 
lar eclipse of the sun. Although privately circulated, this explanation 
of Baily’s Beads has not before been published.—Zds. 
Brooklyn, N. ¥., May 18th, 1854. 
almost all of the remarkable distortions take place when observed neat 
the edge of the Sun’s disc, and as the Moon advances thereon, these pro- 
digious elevations, in a great measure, disappear.” The following 18 42 
explanation: (Fig. 1.) 
Let the line aa’ represent the true edge of the Sun’s disc, and the 
exterior line 5d’ the apparent edge, (the difference between the two being 
caused by the tremulous motion in our own atmosphere,) the zig-24g line 
ec’ the true edge of the Moon, and the dark the apparent edge, when seen 
on the Sun—the difference between the two being caused by the same. 
Now, as the true edge of the Sun’s dise touches any of the moan 
on the Moon’s edge, if the part in contact is more than twice this dit 
ference, dark lines will instantly shoot out and connect the apparent edges 
of the Sun and Moon, and they become wider as the Moon’s edge 4P" 
proaches the exterior edge of the Sun’s disc, beads being peeing 
or narrower, as the Moon’s edge recedes internally, unti 
Fig. 2 shows Baily’s Beads at the jnstant of formation. 
