318 Mr. Schroeter's Observations 
of the seven-feet reflector, I could use only the four-feet in- 
strument, with powers magnifying 134, and 70 times. The 
southern cusp had its luminous prolongation, but not quite so 
distinct as the preceding night ; but what was more remark- 
able, each cusp, but chiefly the northern one, had now most 
evidently a faint tapering prolongation, of a bluish grey cast, 
which, gradually fading, extended along the dark hemisphere, 
so that the luminous part of the limb was considerably more 
than a semicircle. 
On the next night, being the 11th of March, when the se- 
ven-feet reflector was again fit for use, I found Venus before 
sun-set, with a power magnifying 95 times. At six o'clock, 
I saw distinctly the southern point terminating in a luminous 
streak ; which now, as in the evening of the 9th, was longer 
and narrower than the bright termination of the northern 
cusp. The apparent diameter of Venus measured 60"; but 
the greatest breadth of the illuminated part could not be as- 
certained on account of some undulations in the air, occa- 
sioned by rising vapours : the light, however, sparkled through 
this tremulous medium, similar to the flash in a silver furnace; 
and comparing what I could distinguish with the table of pro- 
jections, this breadth I found could not well exceed 2". I also 
saw most distinctly the faint bluish luminous streak, sensibly 
extending in an inflected direction beyond the bright semi- 
circle, and continued observing it till 6’ h 30", when, on ac- 
count of the descent of the planet, I ceased my observation. 
The powers I used magnified 95 and 74 times. 
No doubt can hence be entertained of the reality of this 
memorable phenomenon ; but for reasons which I shall give 
hereafter, I was very solicitous to be able to measure the pro- 
