26 REPORT OF THE SECRETARY. 



TELEGRAPHIC ANNOUNCEMENTS OF ASTRONOMICAL DISCOVERIES. 



During" the past year a very important arrangement has been con- 

 cluded between the Smithsonian Institution and the Atlantic cable com- 

 panies, by which is guaranteed the free transmission by telegraph be- 

 tween Europe and America of accounts of astronomical discoveries, 

 which, for the purpose of co-operative observation, require immediate 

 announcement. 



Among such discoveries are those of planets and comets, or of bodies 

 which are generally so faint as not to be seen except through the tele- 

 scope; and which being in motion, their place in the heavens must be 

 made known to the distant observer before they so far change their posi- 

 tion as not to be readily found. For this purpose the ordinary mail- 

 conveyance, requiring at least ten days, is too slow, since in that time the 

 body will have so far changed its position as not to be found except 

 with great difficulty ; and this change will become the greater if the 

 body is a very faint one, for in that case it could only be discovered on 

 a night free from moonlight, which of necessity, in ten or twelve days, 

 must be followed by nights on which the sky is illuminated by the moon, 

 and all attempts to discover the object would have to be postponed- until 

 the recurrence of a dark night. Indeed, even then the search often 

 proves in vain ; and it is not, in some cases, until after a set of approxi- 

 mate elements are calculated and transmitted, that the astronomers on 

 the two sides of the Atlantic are able fully to co-operate with each other. 



These difficulties were discussed by some of the principal astronomers 

 of Europe, and an application was made to the Smithsonian Institution, 

 through Dr. C. H. E. Peters, of Hamilton College, New York, to remove 

 them, by transmitting intelligence immediately through the Atlantic tele- 

 graph cable. For this purpose the Institution applied to the New York, 

 Newfoundland and London Telegraph and to the Western Union Tele- 

 graph Companies to be allowed free transmission of this kind of intelli- 

 gence, and it has received, through Cyrus W. Field, esq., and William 

 Orton, esq., with that liberality which has always attended applications 

 of a similar character by the Institution, the free use of all the lines of 

 these companies for the object in question. 



Similar privileges have been granted for transmitting the intelligence 

 between the principal centers of astronomical research in Europe and 

 the eastern ends of the Atlantic cables. 



Although the discovery of planets and comets will probably be the 

 principal subject of the cable-telegrams, yet it is not intended to restrict 

 the transmission of intelligence solely to that class of observation. 

 Any remarkable solar phenomenon presenting itself suddenly in Eu- 

 rope, observations of which may be practicable in America several hours 

 after the sun has set to the European observer 5 the sudden outburst of 

 some variable star, similar to that which appeared in Corona borealis 

 in 1866 5 unexpected showers of shooting-stars, &c, would be proper 

 subjects for transmission by cable. 



