DESIDERATA, ETC. 
XXXIX 
ter of reference is placed on the line, and the principal circum¬ 
stances of the meteor are then registered in tables of the following 
form:—• 
Magnitude Duration of Time of 
Epoch. No. relative to stars, the appearance, appearance. Remarks. 
Aug. 29. 1 2 2".5 10 h 6 1 4 ". 
It is important to remark, whether the falling star leaves, or 
not, any trace of its course, as sometimes happens, in the form 
of reddish scintillations; the condition of the atmosphere, as 
determined by the usual instruments, should be noted; the time 
must be accurately ascertained; more than one observer should 
be engaged at each station, because the meteors sometimes suc¬ 
ceed one another very quickly, and the duration of the pheno¬ 
menon is too short to permit one person to note the position, 
time, and circumstances of each, with sufficient precision*. 
CONSTANTS OF NATURE AND ART. 
“Amongst those works of science which are too large and too 
laborious for individual efforts, and are therefore fit objects to 
be undertaken by united Academies, I wish to point out one 
which seems eminently necessary at the present time, and which 
would be of the greatest advantage to all classes of the scientific 
world. 
“ I would propose that its title should be The Constants of 
Nature and of Art. It ought to contain all those facts which 
can be expressed by numbers in the various sciences and arts.” 
( Babbage , Edinburgh Journal of Science, N.S., No. 12.) 
The following extracts from Mr. Babbage's general plan of 
contents will exemplify the objects and arrangement of the pro¬ 
posed work. 
These contents should consist of— 
1. All the constant quantities belonging to our system \—as 
distance of each planet,—period of revolution,—inclination of 
orbit, &c.—proportion of light received from the sun,—force of 
gravity on the surface of each, &c. 
2. The atomic weight of bodies. 
3. List of the metals, with columns for specific gravity,— 
electricity,—tenacity,—specific heat,—conducting power for 
* Contemporaneous observations are especially desirable on this subject; per¬ 
sons desirous of undertaking this investigation are therefore requested to apply 
to a member of the Auroral Committee, or to the Assistant Secretary at York, 
for information of the evenings and hours appointed for this purpose. 
