•2 6^ Dr. Herschel’s Observations 
was about one 9th or 1 oth part of the former. The apparent 
disk of the small star near (3 Leonis, which has been mentioned 
before, had an equal comparative magnitude, and probably 
the disks of the asteroid and of the star it resembles are equally 
spurious. 
The 20 feet reflector, with many different magnifying 
powers, gave still the same result; and being already con- 
vinced of the impossibility, in the present situation of the aste- 
roid, which is above two months past the opposition, to obtain 
a better view of its diameter, I used this instrument chiefly to 
ascertain whether any nebulosity or atmosphere might be seen 
about it For this purpose the valuable quantity of light col- 
lected by an aperture of 18J- inches directly received by an eye- 
glass of the front-view without a second reflection, proved of 
eminent use, and gave me the diameter of this asteroid intirely 
free from all nebulous or atmospheric appearances. 
The result of these observations is, that we now are in pos- 
session of a formerly unknown species of celestial bodies, which 
by their smallness and considerable deviation from the path 
in which the planets move, are in no danger of disturbing, or 
being disturbed by them ; and the great success that has al- 
ready attended the pursuit of the celebrated discoverers of 
Ceres, Pallas, Juno, and Vesta, will induce us to hcpe that 
some further light may soon be thrown upon this new and 
most interesting branch of astronomy. 
Observations of the expected Comet. 
The comet which has been seen descending to the sun, and 
from the motion of which it was concluded that we should 
probably see it again on its return from the perihelion, was 
