202 



G. H. KNIBBS. 



(117) Newcomb, 1897 (June) — The question of the relation of 

 distance to magnitude, using the solar motion as a gauge, is further 

 examined by Newcomb in his paper on the precessional constant 

 in No. 405 of the Astronomical Journal. 1 His result, taking 

 unity for the distance of fifth magnitude stars, the factors to make 

 the parallactic motion uniform were found to be 2 



Mag. 1-2 3 4 5 6 7 



Factor 0-4 0-6 08 1-0 1-2 1-4 



As stated in the preceding article Newcomb adopted 18 \ hrs, as 



the R.A. of the solar apex. 3 



It is pointed out in a later paper by Boss that the coordinates 

 deduced by Newcomb for the components of the solar motion give 4 



R.A. = 274°2, D.= +31°2 

 Of these coordinates however, Newcomb says : — " it must be 

 remembered that they are derived from stars of small proper 

 motion, which are not the best adapted to the special determination 

 of the solar motion." 5 



(118) Boss, 1897 (Aug.) — In discussing Newcomb's value for 

 the precessional constant, 6 Boss pointed out that his, Newcomb's, 

 result for the coordinates of the solar motion determined the 

 direction just given. This position however, he remarks, is at 

 variance with that deduced from more elaborate discussions. 7 



(119) D'Auria, 1897 (Oct.) — D'Auria stated that an easy solu- 

 tion of the problem of stellar dynamics can be reached, provided 

 the interstellar aether be assumed to be ponderable. 8 The whole 

 article proposes to demonstrate that the revolution of the stars 

 about the "centre of the universe," conceived to be finite, takes 

 place in the same time, viz., a little over 14 millions years. This 

 period he represents by the equation 



1 A new determination of the precessional motion. — Astr. Journ. Vol. 

 xvn., (No. 405) pp. 161 - 167, 1897. 2 Loc. cit., p. 163. 3 Loc. cit., p. 164. 



4 See Boss 1897 hereinafter. 5 Loc. cit., p. 163. 



6 Note on Professor Newcomb's determination of the Constant of Pre- 

 cession and on the Paris Conference of 1896. — Astr Journ. Vol. xviii., 

 (No. 410) pp. 9-12. 7 Loc. cit., p. 10. 



8 Stellar Dynamics. — Journ. Franklin Inst., Vol. cxliv., pp. 306 -312,. 

 1897. 



