138 Astronomical Notes. 



of combining the observations which they yield so readily 

 with those which are reluctantly given up by our more turbid 



skies. 



SOLAE OBSEEVATIOK 



But a few years ago it would have been difficult to realize 

 the idea of a light exceeding the brightness of the sun. Its 

 possibility must of course be conceded; but all experience was 

 against its existence, excepting during the suspension of the 

 ordinary laws of nature. The " Carrington-Hodgson" obser- 

 vation of Sept. 1, 1859, was the first to dispel this erroneous 

 impression in the most effectual manner, by exhibiting a burst 

 of yet more vivid flame even in front of the glowing solar 

 photosphere : but this evidence no longer stands alone. Mr. 

 Brodie informs us that he was permitted to witness a second 

 phenomenon of this nature on the morning of last Oct. 2, 

 in the form of a very brilliant body about 4" or 5" in diameter, 

 ' ' its light far surpassing in intensity that of the Sun's photo- 

 sphere," into which it seemed to fall after a course of about 1' 

 performed in 0*3s. His sketch exhibits a slightly curved tail, 

 which seems to have been identical with its line of flight, but 

 has " two very considerable ' serrations' on its eastern edge." 

 This recurrence of a most interesting, and till recently quite 

 unsuspected phenomenon, ought to put all solar observers espe- 

 cially on their guard, to be prepared to catch and to record 

 these fleeting manifestations of one of the great energies of 

 this wonderful creation. 



OPTICAL DECEPTION. 



In the Intellectual Observer for October, 1863, an account 

 was given of an atmospheric illusion, by which the telescopic 

 images of the stars were doubled. A similar deception was 

 noticed on Jan. 21 of the present year. Orion, ascending to 

 the meridian in the S.S.E., was found studded with double 

 stars. Betelgeuse and Rigel were turned into splendid pairs, 

 each having acquired a companion of the 4 or 5 mag., while 

 small stars in like manner were dignified with 10 mag. atten- 

 dants. £ presented an especially singular appearance, having a 

 fresh comes of about 7 mag., nearly opposite the ordinary one, 

 but at half the distance. These secondary images, which 

 were almost as neatly defined as real discs, were formed verti- 

 cally above the true star, about l //- 25 or 1"'50 distant from it, 

 upon the first diffraction ring, the light of which, on that side, 

 seemed to be intensified into a bright spot. The appearance 

 was unaffected alike by turning round the object-glass or the 

 eye-piece, or by a change of magnifiers, and evidently resided 

 in the atmosphere. Some 3-mag. stars at a similar altitude in 



