180 C. J, MERFIELD. 



It will be seen from the table of " Residuals for the Equations 

 of Condition" that Dr. Stichtenoth's elements represent the 

 observations during the period of the extreme places used in his 

 calculation March 4 to May 5 fairly well, but on the date 1899 

 May 26, the residuals amount to +13.2 in right ascension and 

 — 118" in declination and increased to +21. 7 in right ascension 

 on June 12. The elements II. by Dr. Stichtenoth are however 

 somewhat better than elements I., so that they have been adopted 

 as the assumed elements for correction. 



Having computed an ephemeris from elements I., for observer's 

 purposes, it was not thought necessary to form a new ephemeris, 

 this was therefore adopted for comparing the observations. 



Previous to this calculation, orbit elements 1 were deduced from 

 five normals and with satisfactory results, these were forwarded 

 to Prof. Kreutz. With the information gained it was thought 

 advisable to increase the number of equations of condition, and 

 also introduce other observations into the calculation of the 

 normals, these observations becoming available to the writer just 

 prior to this calculation. This final investigation the author 

 has much pleasure in presenting to this Society. The results 

 obtained are on the assumption of undisturbed motion ; the per- 

 turbations produced by the earth as well as those by the inner 

 planets will be small, and will not affect the results materially. 



Calculation of the Orbit Elements. 



Elements I. (Merfield.) 2 



T = 1899 April 12-98324 G.M.T. 



O I II 



to = 8 43 48-8 \ 

 Si = 24 59 41-4 [l899 

 * = 146 15 35-5 ) 

 Log ? = 9-5138016 



Equation for Co-ordinates. 



O I It 



x = [9-9876979] r sin (v + 77 32 24-76). 



y = [9-9962487] r sin (v + 165 42 49-87). 



z = [9-4292867] r sin (« + 47 28 20-21). 



1 Astronomische Nachrichten, No. 3602. 2 Ibid., No. 3575. 



