14S Mr. Herschel’s and Mr. South’s observations of the apparent 
£ Ursae Majoris continued. 
at some future period, may rely with confidence in any inves- 
tigation relative to the orbit of this star. 
A double star in which the two stars are nearly equal, 
connected undoubtedly in a binary system by their mutual 
gravitation, and revolving round their common center of 
gravity with a motion so rapid as to admit of being traced, 
and measured from month to month, must be allowed to be a 
phaenomenon of no common interest, and deserving every 
attention, both from the practical and theoretical astronomer. 
The rapid alteration of position in J Ursae Majoris, was first 
pointed out and established by unequivocal observations by 
Sir W. Herschel, in his second “ Account of the changes 
that have happened in the relative situations of double stars,” 
Phil. Trans. 1804,, already so often referred to. The obser- 
vations of M. Struve (who has called the attention of astro- 
nomers to it in a pointed manner) and our own, fully con- 
firm it ; at the same time that they indicate a remarkable 
alteration in its velocity, which can only be accounted for bv 
supposing the relative orbit to be one of great ellipticity. The 
whole series of observations from the first notice of it as a 
double star, to the present time, will stand as follows : 
Position. 
1781.97 (Dec. 19) 53 0 47' sf ; H. Catal. of 1782. 
1782.89 (Nov. 20) nearly equal; but the pre- 
ceding is rather the largest. 
H. Catal. of 1782. MS. 
2802.09 (Feb. 4) 7 31 sf; (“Accountof the changes, &c.”) 
1804.08 (Jan. 29) 2 38 sf; Ditto. Ditto. 
