Mr. Picorr’s Obfervations of the Comet of 1733. 464 
vifible without being illuminated. With this inftrument the 
comet, by the common method, was compared to ftars in the. 
field of the telefcope, and within four minutes on the fame 
parallel. ‘The places of thofe flars were afterwards fettled 
with the meridian inftruments. As fometimes feveral ftars 
were obferved, I eafily found to what degree of certainty thofe 
obiervations might be depended on, which I have marked with 
the above refults. ‘The declinations, I think, cannot err two 
minutes, being compared to {tars within four minutes on the 
fame parallel. The three of November 20th, 24th, and 26th, 
were taken with the tranfit inftrument by comparing the comet 
to the neareft ftars. I was much chagrined in not being able 
to fee the comet in our equatorial when the wires were illu- 
minated. 
The comet had exactly the appearance of a nebula: 
its light was fo faint that it could not be feen in a 
good opera glafs. In the night-telefcope the nucleus was 
{carcely vifible, and the diameter of the furrounding coma 
was about three minutes of a degree. Between the roth and 
26th of November, I thought it had rather diminifhed in 
brightnefs. December the 1ft and 3d it was very difficult to 
be feen, occafioned perhaps by its little elevation above the 
horizon. Between December the 3d and roth, the comet was 
entirely effaced by the increafed light of the Moon. On the 
roth, the moon being in the horizon did not obliterate ftars of 
the eighth or ninth magnitude; but I could not And the comet. 
The following obfervations were made by my friend Mr. Joun 
(GOODRICKE. 
Oo002 Dates 
