Mr. Pogson on the Madras Celestial Survey. 87 



observations in 1859, having entered down the positions of 

 above three hundred thousand stars between the equator 

 and the north pole. This crowning act of a career, the 

 most energetic and brilliantly productive on record in the 

 history of practical astronomy, v/as acknowledged by the 

 Royal Astronomical Society of London, by the award of its 

 gold medal, in February last. 



In the year 1854, Mr. Carrington, then the possessor of 

 a well-equipped private observatory at Redhill, commenced 

 a survey of a more limited portion of the northern heavens ; 

 viz., that within nine degrees of the pole. His noble con- 

 tribution to astronomical science comprised not merely the 

 mapping of this most difficult portion of the hemisphere 

 to a much fainter limit than in the general survey of Pro- 

 fessor Argelander, but also the accurate meridian observa- 

 tions of 3.735 stars, none less than three times each star. 

 Aided only by a single assistant, this labour was accomplished 

 within the short space of three years. He too, in the year 

 1859, most deservedly gained a recognition of his valuable 

 services by the R. A. S. similar to that since rendered to 

 Professor Argelander. 



Other portions of the heavens have been more or less ac- 

 curately mapped by various observers, chief among whom, 

 and indeed first in the field, stands our well known English 

 astronomer J. R. Hind, whose comprehensive series of eciip- 

 tical charts has done so much towards the discovery of the 

 minor planets and of new variable stars. It is to be hoped 

 that the few remaining numbers of his series yet unpub- 

 lished will be speedily forthcoming. These charts are confin- 

 ed to within three degrees north and south of the ecliptic, 

 and contain stars down to the eleventh magnitude. Ec- 

 liptical charts have also been formed by Monsieur Chacor- 

 «ac, of Paris, formerly at Marseilles by Mr. Graham, at 



