CKLKSTIAL DAV OBSEEVATION'S. 
J13 
Observalions on Stars of the second Magnitude- 
My observations on stars of llie second niatrnitvide have not 
' . . , , (ibservations 
been so aunwrous as those on stars of the first magnitude- 'I'he upon tixrd 
following are extracts of some of those which were made- da-^time^** 
November I2lh, 1812, lh-30' P. M. Saw the star. Altair, 
or a AquiUe, with the eight-inch telescope, carryi^^g a power 
of 45, the aperture not conlracted- Having contracted the 
aperture a little, it appeared somewhat Ic'S distiiu;t. This star 
is reckoned, by some, to belong to the class of stars of the first 
magnitude. In V/hile’s Ephemeris it is marked as being of 
the 2d magnitude. It is obviously less splendid than a Lyras 
ora Bootis, aud more brilliant than a OpIiiuLhi. — M.iy 5, 1813, 
6h. P. M. The sun being about an hour and three quarters 
above the horizon. Saw' Alphard, or a IIydrcc,a star of the 2d 
magnitude, with a power of 60, the aperture diminished to 
p-lOths of an inch j a few minutes afterwards could perceive it, 
' but indistinctly, with a power of 30, the aperture contracted as 
above. It could not be seen very distinctly with this power till 
about half an hour before sun-set. Was then seen rather more 
distinctly when the aperture was contracted than without tlie 
> contraction. — May 7- Saw the star Dencb,or C Leonis, distinct- 
ly with a power of O'O, about an hour aud a half before sun-sef. 
■ — August 20th. Saw Has Alkague, or a Ophivchi, at 4ii. 40' 
’ P. M. with a power of ICO ; the sun being nearly 3 hours above 
the horizon and shining bright. Perceived it about an hour 
after with a power of 00, with the aperture co: tracted to 
p-lOths, and also when this contraction was removed. The star 
\ was seen nearly as distinctly in the last case as in the first. 
August 27 . 5h. P. M. The same star appeared quite distinct 
with a power of 60 ; the aperture not contracted. Did not 
j appear more distinct when the aperture was contracted to 
‘p-lOth'of an inch. The sun was tJien more than 2 hours 
above the horizon. — August 28th, 7h. A.M. Saw' the star 
Pollux, or C Gemini, 2 hours after sun-rise, with a power of 00 } 
aperture undiminished. 
Similar observations, giving the same results, were made on 
the 
