216 



Observations on Comet II. 



Pig. 5. 



His observations were made with an excellent refractor, aper- 

 ture three inches, and powers employed from 21 to 120. 



On August 25th, Mr. Howlett obtained another good view 

 of the comet, fig. 5. He says : — " The deficiency (that is of 

 luminosity in the N.E. quadrant) seemed to be filled up again, 

 but the western edge of the jet was far from being in a right 

 line with the general direction of the tail, forming with it, 

 indeed, an angle of some 160° towards the west side." 



On this evening I was able only to obtain a momentary 

 glimpse of the comet between clouds ; I had but time to note 

 its position and to remark that it was very white and brilliant. 

 But on the next evening (26th) I had 

 my best view of it. I began to look 

 for it while Arcturus and Vega only 

 were clearly visible, and the Ursa Major 

 stars to be made out with great diffi- 

 culty. I could not, however, detect 

 it till the latter were all bright, except 

 Delta. Then the comet showed and 

 decidedly brighter than Delta. It 

 increased in brilliancy as evening ad- 

 vanced, and its tail seemed to reach as 

 far as 16 in Draco (see tinted Plate) . I thought it nearly as large 

 as Donates in the days immediately preceding September 30, 

 1 858, but far from being as bright. It was more like the subdued 

 light shown in the well- engraved view of the comet of 1819 in 

 HerscheFs Treatise on Astronomy. I thought the comet's tail 

 of considerable breadth at its extremity, and was pretty sure of 

 a decided line of light to the left. 



My view through the telescope was not satisfactory, for the 

 sky began to cloud over as I concluded my general scrutiny of 

 the comet's appearance. The nucleus and jet of light seemed 

 small and somewhat long. 



On the 27th the sky was overcast here, but Mr. Howlett 

 saw the comet clearly, and, as he afterwards told me, the tail on 

 that evening appeared longest to him, 

 namely, thirteen degrees. His drawing 

 of the head, fig. 6, is accompanied by the 

 following note : — " Some very pretty 

 groups of minute stars were now to be 

 seen involved in the tail and coma. 

 One was about 4' N.E. of the jet. 



The tail, he says, " was concave on 

 its orbital preceding side." He also 

 thought it somewhat deflected at its 

 Fl °- 6 - extremity towards the north-east. His 



next view was on the 30th ; but meanwhile I had seen the comet 



