SCIENTIFIC SUMMARY. 
421 
The Colour of Jupiter. — Jupiter has now returned to our skies, and will for 
several months he favourably situated for observation, coming to opposition 
on Dec. 13. Mr. Browning, referring to a note in the “Report of the Astro- 
nomer Royal to the Board of Visitors,” which tends to throw doubt on the 
idea of any change in the colour of Jupiter’s belts, remarks that as the note 
compares the present colours of the belts with the colours observed eight or 
nine years ago, it may not throw any light on the question. “ There is 
some reason to believe that the change of colour in the equatorial belt of 
Jupiter is periodical.” u That this belt,” he adds , 11 was differently coloured 
during the presentation of 1863-9 ” (than during the last presentation), 11 is 
a fact attested by some six or seven, at least, well-known and skilful 
observers. It is true that in every case these observers were using reflectors 
(of apertures varying between 6 and 12 inches), but I have heard from 
observers who have used achromatics varying between 4 and 8 inches in 
aperture, that they distinctly remarked the change in colour, although they do 
not seem to have seen it so plainly as those who have used reflectors. 
Unfortunately none of these observers have published the results of their 
observations.” Since that was written, Mr. Browning has received a paper 
from Dr. Mayer, of Pennsylvania, describing observations of the colours of 
Jupiter’s belts during the presentation of 1870, which accord perfectly with 
Mr. Browning’s. 
The Eclipse of December 22, as partially visible in England. — The following 
are the chief elements of the eclipse for different places in the British Isles, 
the hours given being for mean time at the respective places : — 
Begins 
Greatest Phase 
Ends 
Magnitude 
h. 
m. 
h. 
m. 
h. 
m. 
Greenwich . 
11 
7-7 a 
..M. 
0 
251 
P.M. 
1 
42-1 i 
•.M. 
0-814 
| Cambridge . 
11 
8-6 
0 
25 5 
1 
41-9 
V 
0-808 
Oxford 
11 
08 
0 
18-0 
jt 
1 
35-0 
)) 
0-813 
Liverpool . 
10 
52*2 
0 
8-0 
)t 
1 
240 
)) 
0-804 
Edinburgh . 
10 
52-8 
V 
0 
0-7 
)} 
1 
20-8 
0-788 
Dublin 
10 
34-1 
}> 
11 
49-6 
A.M. 
1 
5*9 
}) 
0-812 
The Planet Mars. — Mars, towards the close of the quarter, will be favour- 
ably situated for observation in the morning hours ; but he does not come to 
opposition until March next. 
The November Meteors. — The members of this shooting- star system should 
be carefully studied, although it is not likely that there will be any remark- 
able display this year. If observations could be made with a Herschel- 
Browning spectroscope, we might be enabled to judge whether the meteors 
which lie at a considerable distance from the cometic nucleus of the system 
differ in constitution appreciably from those which made their appearance in 
1866, shortly after that nucleus (Tempel’s comet) passed its perihelion. 
