a first Approximation to the Orbit of a Comet, i 6 g 
expected, considering the exactness with which the comet’s 
distances from the sun, and the included angle, were deter- 
mined : but a very little variation of these quantities will pro- 
duce a great alteration in the magnitude of the parabola, when 
the angle contained by the radii vectores is so small as it is in 
this instance. 
Of the two comets to which the method in this Paper has 
been applied, the first varies very slowly in longitude, and 
very rapidly in latitude; the second, on the contrary, has a 
quick motion in longitude, and a very slow motion in latitude: 
in both instances however the intervals between the observa- 
tions are equal ; and I now proceed to give other examples 
where this condition is not observed. 
Application to the second Comet of 1805. 
The following observations are the same that Legendre 
has used for determining the orb.t of this comet:* they were 
communicated to him by M. Bouvard. 
Times 
November 
Longitudes. 
North Latitudes. 
Longitude of 0. 
Log. R. 
23-32241 
• / # 
f, 24 41 3 
X, 27 25 19 
0 /II 
e, 61 8 23 
R, 9-9942042 
30 '. 5 io 95 
15 38 36 
x°,i9 25 6 
/,6’8 25 47 
R°. 99936655 
December 
5'2958 i 
t'. 2 6 33 
x', 3 19 22 
<-''.73 17 5 
R'.9’9933784 
Calculating from these data, we get 
log. 46' = 9-2296576 
« = 359° 21 ' 5H" 
* Supplement aux nouvelles Methodes, ^ 30, p. 36. 
MDCCCXIV. Z 
