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esting, though it must not be ascribed to the actual depression of the spot, but rather to its deficiency in light compared to the Sun's surface. In this case, also, "bad seeing" somewhat interfered with the best results.

Owing to the great size of the spot, it will probably last for more than a revolution of the Sun, and its reappearance at the eastern limb near the end of this month will be awaited with much interest. A. L. COLTON.

January 20, 1897.

THE GREAT SUN-SPOT OF JANUARY, 1897.

On Friday, January 15th, the large sun-spot, first noticed by Mr. COLTON, was passing out of view over the west limb of the Sun, and it was hoped that a favorable opportunity would thus be presented for determining the relative elevation of umbra and faculæ with respect to the photosphere. I, therefore, watched the spot with the twelve-inch equatorial, diaphragmed down to four inches aperture, using a HERSCHEL prism and a 150-power eye-piece-the highest power the seeing would permit.

At times the principal umbra appeared distinctly depressed, and the faculæ at all times seemed elevated above the average surface level; but the seeing was at no time good enough to make it certain that this was not merely the effect of irradiation. The spot was under observation from 10 50TM A. M. to 2h 30m P. M. R. G. AITKEN.

January 19, 1897.

THE HELIOCENTRIC THEORY AND THE UNIVERSITY OF CAMBRIDGE IN 1669.*

"After dinner his highness (Grand Duke COSMO III of Florence) desirous to gratify the Vice-Chancellor (of the University of Cambridge), who entreated him to honor the academy with his presence, went thither with his attendants, followed by the Vice-Chancellor and the heads of the University. In the principal hall, into which his highness was introduced, a short Latin oration was made by one of the Professors, which, being pronounced in the same manner as that which was spoken in the morning, was but little understood. And afterward his highness was

* One hundred and twenty-six years after the death of COPERNICUS.

present at different questions which were propounded for disputation and strenuously opposed by Professors and Masters of Arts. De methodo philosophandi in experimentis fundata, et Contra Systema Copernicanum."—From Travels of COSMO the Third, Grand Duke of Tuscany, through England, during the reign of King CHARLES the Second (1669), (translated from the Italian manuscript by Count MAGALOTTI in the Laurentian library at Florence. London, 1821, pp. 224, 225.)

HONOR CONFERRED ON PROFESSOR BARNARD.

The Royal Astronomical Society of London has awarded its gold medal of the present year to Professor BARNARD for his astronomical discoveries and observations.

PRICES OF REFLECTING TELescopes.

From an article in the Strand Magazine for October, 1896 (an interview with Sir HOWARD GRUBB, F. R. S.), it appears that the original cost of Lord Rosse's six-foot reflector was about £12,000, of the four-foot Melbourne reflector about £4600, and that the estimated cost of a ten-foot reflector of eighty feet focus is £33,000.

A BRILLIANT METEOR.

m

[Extract from a private letter by WM. S. MOSES.] "This evening (December 31, 1896) at 67 P. S. T., I observed a brilliant meteor. It appeared at € Tauri and traveled in a southwest course, expiring at Ceti. It moved very slowly, being visible, I think, three seconds. Its train was dazzling white and cast a distinct shadow of the trees which intercepted its light. The upper and lower edges of the train were bluish in color. The head was scintillating. It did not burst, nor did I hear an explosion. I happened to be looking at Mars and saw it from beginning to end. It did not appear to be far distant. As I took my chart and plotted its course within three minutes after it disappeared, I think I am reasonably correct. It was the finest meteor I ever saw. Accompanying I give a sketch of it."*

LONE MOUNTAIN OBSERVATORY,

San Francisco, Cal. S

*The sketch is here omitted.

LIST OF AMERICAN FOREIGN ASSOCIATES OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

The first American who was elected one of the fifty Foreign Associates of the Royal Astronomical Society (founded in 1820) was WILLIAM CRANCH BOND, who was chosen in 1849. Following is a complete list:

1849. WILLIAM C. BOND. 1850. BENJAMIN PEIRCE. ALEX. D. BACHE.

O. M. MITCHEL. SEARS C. WALKER. 1855. F. F. E. BRUENNOW. MATTHEW F. MAURY. BENJAMIN A. GOULD. 1863. GEORGE P. Bond. 1866. TRUMAN H. SAFFORD. 1872. SIMON NEWCOMB.

HUBERT A. NEWTON.

1872. LEWIS M. RUTHERFurd.

CHARLES A. YOUNG.

1876. GEORGE W. HILL.
1879. ASAPH HALL.

C. H. F. PETERS.
1881. EDWARD C. PICKERING.
1883. SAMUEL P. LANGLEY.
1884. EDWARD S. HOLDEN.
1889. SETH C. CHANDLER.
1890. LEWIS Boss.

1892. WILLIAM L. ELKIN.
1894. ALBERT A. MICHELSON.

LIST OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE RECEIVED THE MEDAL OF THE ROYAL ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY.

Since the year 1823, the Royal Astronomical Society has given a gold medal for services to science. The first American to receive this medal was GEORGE PHILLIPS BOND. The medal has been awarded to the following Americans:

1865. GEORGE P. Bond.

1874. SIMON NEWCOMB.

1879. ASAPH HALL.

1883. BENJAMIN A. GOULD.

1886. EDWARD C. PICKERING.

1887. GEORGE W. HILL.

1894. SHERBURNE W. BURNHAM.

1896. SETH C. CHANDLER.

1897. EDWARD E. BARNARD.

EARTHQUAKE AT OAKLAND, JANUARY 17, 1897.

On January 17, 1897, at 1" 11" II P. M., P. S. T., two sharp shocks were observed, about one second apart. The time given is for the second shock, and is believed to be correct within a second. In half an hour my watch was compared with W. U. time, and the correction applied to the observed time.

The first shock seemed heavier than the second, and both suggested an explosion rather than an earthquake. An examination of the country in the direction of the powder mills was made immediately from the house-top with a glass, but no smoke or

other evidences of an explosion were visible. A heavy rumbling was noticed just preceding the shocks, and the house creaked. The windows on the north side of the house seemed to rattle before and louder than those on the opposite side. The chandelier shook, and as it came to rest the vibrations appeared to be north and south, approximately. A. H. BABCOCK.

OAKLAND, Cal., January 17, 1897.

ELLIPTIC ELEMENTS OF COMET g, 1896, (PERRINE), BY W. J. HUSSEY AND C. D. Perrine.

From Mount Hamilton observations of December 8th, December 20th, and January 5th, we have computed the following elements of this comet:

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With the exception of w or, these elements closely resemble those of BIELA's Comet at its last apparition in 1852.

MOUNT HAMILTON, January 14, 1897.

OBSERVATIONS OF THE COMPANION TO PROCYON, AND OF THE COMPANION TO SIRIUS, BY J. M. Schaeberle.

Measures of the Companion to Procyon.

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HONOR CONFERRED ON DR. LEWIS SWIFT.

A press-telegram of January 5th notifies that the medal founded by Mrs. HANNAH JACKSON (née GWILT) has been conferred by the Royal Astronomical Society on Dr. SWIFT, Director of the Lowe Observatory, "in recognition of his services to the cause of science in the discovery of comets, etc."

THE LADD OBSERVATORY (PROVIDENCE, R. I.)

During the year's leave of absence of the Director of the Ladd Observatory (Professor UPTON), which is to be spent at the Arequipa station of the Harvard College Observatory, his place is to be filled by Mr. F. W. VERY, who has resigned the position at the Allegheny Observatory which he has occupied for so many years.

MEASURES OF THE COMPANION TO PROCYON.

I have secured three measures with the thirty-six-inch refractor of the companion to Procyon discovered by Professor SCHAEBERLE. The mean is:

1896.98

January 19, 1897.

3210.0

4′′.84

R. G. AITKEN.

ERRATUM IN PUBLICATIONS A. S. P., No. 53.

Volume VIII, No. 53, page 311, line 9, for SCHIAPARELLI read SCHAEBERLE.

C. A. Y.

ASTRONOMICAL TELEGRAMS. (Translation.)

Lick Observatory, Dec. 9, 1896.

(Sent 10 A. M.)

To Harvard College Observatory and Students' Observatory:

A comet was discovered by PERRINE, December 8, 20" 29" 48 G. M. T.; R. A. o 52 26.7, Decl. +6° 24′ 52". Daily motion R. A. + 7", Decl. — 30'. It is about as bright as a star of eighth magnitude; has a well-defined nucleus and tail.

Lick Observatory, Dec. 9, 1896.

(Sent 10:45 P.M.)

To Harvard College Observatory

and Students' Observatory:

Comet PERRINE was observed by PERRINE, December 9, 15h 37 50 G. M. T.; R. A. oh 58 9.9, Decl. + 6° 4′ 30′′.

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