SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
251 
It has been known to be visible to the naked eye when nearest the earth. 
It was detected on the 23rd of October in America, by Bond, but might 
have been seen several weeks earlier. It was excessively faint in November, 
and its appearance bore out the idea of its almost ethereal nature, which a 
French philosopher describes as its bearing the same relation to the earth 
in weight as a fly to an elephant, and even adding a superlative to the 
lines — 
“ Quid levius pluma? Pulvis — Quid pulvere — Ventus, 
Quid vento ? mulier — Quid muliere ? Nihil.” 
It will astonish many to hear that the great comet of July is still in 
sight, but only the most powerful bodies can reach it. It is now in the constel- 
lation of Lyra. Its place, on Jan. 1, 1862, is 18h. 47m. R.A., and 49° 7' 
of north declination. 
The Sun has been covered plentifully with spots during the whole of the 
present year, but at the beginning of December they were especially in great 
number. On December 7 and 8, upwards of thirty could be counted, which 
were of all sizes, and one of which had a great latitude : — 
The equatorial regions were quite clear, and the zone of the spots was very 
definite, and, as at this time of the year, arranged in a straight line. The 
bright streaks were very brilliant near the spots and edge of the sun. 
An eclipse of the sun (in which about one-half of its disc will be hidden) 
occurs on the last day of the year, beginning at Dec. 31, lh. 51m. p.m. at 
London, and ending at 3h. 51m. p.m. It is to be observed in Africa, where 
it is total, by the Moorish astronomers, who so carefully noticed the 
phenomena in the eclipse of July, 1860, in the same country. The transit 
of Mercury, of Nov. 11, was invisible in London and its neighbourhood, 
and appears to have been somewhat unfortunate in Europe, generally. 
The attention of telescopic observers will mostly be directed to Saturn, 
whose ring will be invisible until Jan. 31, after which time it will remain 
in sight until May 17, when it again disappears. The mountains and 
atmosphere of Venus will, doubtless, also attract their gaze, and the varying 
bands and atmosphere, and the changeable lustre of the satellites of Jupiter, 
be also strictly watched. Venus arrives at its greatest evening brilliancy 
on Jan. 21, and will be at its greatest morning brilliancy on April 2. It 
is in conjunction with the sun on Feb. 25. The discovery of new planets 
and comets appears to have ceased lately, but will, doubtless, be resumed 
with the clear weather and dark niehts of the com in 2 ' vear. 
