Observations on Comet IT. 205 



near it, but much further outwards ; it seems, in fact, to be one 

 branch of a parabola, whose vertex lies exterior to the feather, 

 though much within the coma next the suu, and corresponding, 

 perhaps, on the other side, with the line of the old set-off, of 

 which, however, no trace remains. Measurement impracticable 

 from clouds, but position of chord of feather estimated about 

 250°. See figs. 6 and 7, the latter on a much smaller scale. 



A succession of cloudy weather unfortunately terminated 

 this series of observations at a time when they possessed the 

 greatest interest, from the combination of a recent perihelion 

 passage, subsequent to which the sun's influence is found to 

 attain its maximum upon comets, with the nearest approach to 

 the earth. Some remarks and deductions, aided by comparison 

 with the more valuable observations of others, are reserved for 

 a future opportunity. 



Our readers will not fail to take every opportunity of study- 

 ing the phenomena of Mars ; the snows of his S. pole, and 

 the curious configurations of his surface. 



Only two occultations are visible at Greenwich during the 

 month of October, and those at inconvenient hours. 



OBSEKVATIONS ON COMET II. 1862. 



BY THE HON. MES. WAED. 



The second comet discovered in this year* has passed into 

 southern skies, having, while yet above our horizon, faded away 

 from unassisted sight. It made its nearest approach to the sun 

 on August 23rd, and to the earth on August 30th, having been 

 visible to the naked eye — visible, that is to say, where the state 

 of the weather admitted of any heavenly body being observed, 

 from about the 1st of August. 



Those who viewed it on one of the calm clear evenings 

 between the 23rd and 30th of that month may have seen it, 

 much as in our Plate, at a conspicuous height in the heavens, 

 the broad pale head seeming somewhat to surpass in size any 

 of the larger fixed stars in its neighbourhood, but to yield in 

 brightness to many of the smaller ones, while the tail, trans- 

 parent and filmy, scarcely as evident as any part of the Milky 

 Way, almost faded from view as one gazed at it, and seemed 

 best recognized by slightly averting the eye. Yet no one could 

 for an instant glance at the starry heavens, and fail to see it 

 was there. 



Such, I think, is a fair description of Comet II. The cir- 



* Comet I. was discovered by M. Schmidt on July 2nd, and for a few days 

 was faintly visible to the naked eye. 



