206 



Observations on Comet II. 



cumstances under which it was observed were favourable rather 

 than the contrary- It remained during nearly a month in that 

 part of the heavens where the stars, as viewed in our latitudes, 

 do not set, from their nearness to the Pole ; it came, not in 

 the twilight nights of midsummer, but at a time when five 

 hours of real darkness could be reckoned on ; and above all, 



s 





CEPHEf/j 



■* i 



DRACO /ufl.sN "^ ;' 



'Pole St4'r 



gOQTES 



S .e a URSA MAJOR 



>r /'"canes" venatici 



— hus ^. L6S .. 



W 





BOOTES 



<e/>t.# 



. V""tares 



SCORPiO 



Ul B RA 



VIRGO 



FlG. 1. — Plan of the Apparent Path of the Comet during nearly the whole time 

 in which it has been visible. 



the moon was absent during the greater part of the comet's 

 best fortnight. 



But I doubt not that many an intelligent circle of observers 

 have felt somewhat discontented with Comet II. They have 

 emerged from the more genial glare of a moderateur lamp " to 

 see the comet," and, baffled in attempts to view its lofty posi- 

 tion from a window, have scanned it out-of-doors, and I fear 



