SCIE^sTIFIC SUMMARY. 
83 
minghani notes that most of the meteors were tailless, although some had fine 
full disks and long tails (some notice of these will he found in our summary 
for October last, p. 441) like the November group. It was, however, the No- 
vember shower which was expected with greater anxiety ; although observers 
had been warned, by those well acquainted with this branch of astronomy, 
that the meteors were not likely to appear before five or six o’clock in the 
morning, and that the moonlight and approaching daylight would greatly in- 
terfere with any good observation of them. Unfortunately, however, on the 
morning of the 14th of November the sky was greatly overcast ; and it 
appears, from observations made and the continual watch kept up in most 
parts of the coimtry, that not above half-a-dozen meteors were seen. In a 
letter from’ Rome, Father Secchi states, that during a break in the clouds 
about six o’clock in the morning, a few meteors were seen ; on the whole, 
however, the weather prevented any observations of the meteor shower, if 
it did take place at the time expected. 
Observation of the Planet Jupiter without his Satellites. — -At the meeting ot 
the Royal Astronomical Society, December 14, 1866, the Astronomer Ro}''al 
called attention to the fact that this rare phenomenon would take place 
in the following August. It will be recollected, that Mr. Proctor supplied a 
full and interesting detail of what was to be seen, at p. 248 of the July 
number of the Popular Science Review. It was, therefore, with much hope, 
not unmingled with anxiety as to the weather, that the evening of the 2Ist 
of August was looked forward to ; and, although in few instances were the 
Avhole of the phenomena observed in any one place, owing to the passing- 
clouds, yet, on the whole, expectations were gratified by a sight of the 
planet which may almost be pronounced unique. It was expected that 
possessors of moderate telescopic means would see the planet divested of his 
satellites, and with three black dots, or shadows, on his disk j while those 
who had more powerful instruments might, in addition, be able to detect the 
bright satellites also. But, to the astonishment of all, those using even 
quite ordinary telescopic power were surprised by seeing not only three, but 
five black dots ! — the third and fourth satellites, on this occasion, appearing 
nearly, if not quite, as black as their shadows. Observations, carefully made 
in all parts of the country, confirm the occurrence, in this instance, of an 
anomaly with regard to the third and fourth satellites, which has often been 
noticed before, although not yet sufiiciently accounted for. The fourth satel- 
lite particularly was seen projected on the planet as an intensely black spot; 
while on many occasions it is invisible, like the other satellites, from its 
brightness. This dark appearance of the satellite itself is also often the 
case with the third ; never, we believe, with the first or second. 
Suspected Changes on the Surface of the Moon. — This subject has, during 
the past year, remained somewhat in a state of abeyance, as to any definite 
conclusions to be derived from observations made upon Linne. It is admitted, 
that much uncertainty prevails as to the nature of the observations ot 
former years, more particularly whether Beer and Madler’s measurement of 
the diameter (1-4 German miles) related to the crater itself, or to the whole 
bright patch, which appears now to be about that size. Continued scrutiny 
and careful attention are quite necessary, with accurate drawings, in order 
to form a base for future observations of change. The matter, however, 
