of sight by these methods are of extreme precision. Together with the visual observations made with the same object at Mount Hamilton, they have begun an entirely new epoch in spectroscopic work of the kind, on account of their unexpected accuracy; and they will lead to new and independent solutions of many great cosmical questions-such as the determination of the motion of the solar system in space, etc. The researches at Potsdam and similar ones at the Harvard College Observatory have already led to most unexpected and important discoveries with regard to double stars. There is no space to speak of them here, but a reference may be made to these Publications, Vol. II, pages 27, 125, Vol. III, page 46, where some of them are mentioned. The Observatory at Potsdam proposes to take part in the making of the International Photographic Charts of all the stars down to the fourteenth magnitude and is already in possession of its 13-inch photographic telescope, which has been mounted in a capital way by the REPSOLDS. The mounting differs from that of other telescopes of the same character in having its pier not straight and vertical, but broken, and so that the upper portion is parallel to the axis of the earth. By this arrangement stars near the zenith may be observed on both sides of the meridian without reversing the telescope. In visual observations reversing the telescope is merely felt as a great inconvenience; in continued photographic exposures it is utterly inadmissible. The telescope is mounted in a small brick structure west of the main building. Some plates have already been obtained with it for the grand chart of the heavens. The telescope is really a double telescope, inasmuch as beside the 13-inch photographic glass, there is mounted in the same tube a 9-inch glass for visual observations, by means of which the plate is guided in long exposures. The most ingenious arrangements for illuminating all required parts of the telescope, as well as the recorder's desk, by means of electricity, have been devised by Dr. SCHEINER and are already in operation. In a small frame building adjoining the dome of the photographic refractor is a transit instrument which is used solely for time observations. The observatory possesses a great number of auxiliary instruments-photometers, spectroscopes, photographic and meteorological apparatus, etc., etc., which have been used in the researches published in the seven quarto volumes already distributed. Every Friday afternoon the doors of the observatory are thrown open to the public. No instruction is given to students of astronomy. Every possible assistance, however, is rendered to those who are already somewhat advanced in astronomical work. SIR JAMES SOUTH ON CHRONOMETERS. In 1868 was proved the testament of Sir JAMES SOUTH, the astronomer, giving a pocket chronometer to the EARL OF SHAFTESBURY, to the EARL OF ROSSE, and to Mr. A. J. STEPHENS, "in the full confidence" he observes, "that they would respectively use and wear them in the same manner as I am in the habit of wearing my chronometer-namely, in my pantaloons pocket, properly so called." PERSONAL NOTE REGARDING PROFESSOR MICHELSON. “Worcester (MASS.), January 16, 1892. "ALBERT A. MICHELSON, of CLARK University, has been invited by the International Bureau of Weights and Measures to spend the coming summer at the Bureau's laboratory at Breteuil, near Paris, for the purpose of establishing the metric standard in terms of wave-lengths of light. He is asked to make the basis of units of length natural instead of arbitrary. "This invitation is an honor both to American scholarship and to CLARK University. The invitation of the international committee has been accepted by Professor MICHELSON, with the formal approval of the president and trustees of CLARK University."-Telegram to S. F. Chronicle. DUPLICATES IN THE LIBRARY OF THE LICK OBSERVATORY. The following duplicate volumes, among others, are in the library of the Lick Observatory. Most of them are neatly and substantially bound. ARGELANDER: Abo Observations, vols. 1, 2, 3, folio. BERLINER JAHRBUCH: for 1883, 1886-7-8, 4 vols., 8vo. LONDON: Memoirs Royal Astronomical Society, vol. 24, I vol., 4to. MADRAS: Observations for 1862-3-4, 1 vol., 4to. Moscow: Observations, vol. ix, parts 1, 2 (1883); x, part 2 (1884); I part 1 (1886). 4 parts, 4to, paper. NEW HAVEN: Amer. Journal Science, vol. 25, 1883, 8vo, paper. PARIS: Annuaire Bureau Longitudes, 1876-7, 2 vols., 16mo, paper. RUEMKER: Paramatta Observations (Phil. Trans., 1829). I vol., 4to, paper. TODD: Tables of the Satellites of Jupiter, 1 vol., 4to. WASHINGTON: U. S. Naval Observatory Eclipse Report, 1878, 1 vol., 4to. We should be glad to exchange these volumes for others which are needed in our library, as for example: ARGELANDER: OELTZEN'S Argelander's Northern Zones. ARGELANDER: The maps (only) to the first section of the DM. (+90°, — 2°). BULLETIN ASTRONOMIQUE: vols. I, 2 wanted. GOULD: Astronomical Journal, volume 1. Moscow: Observations-any volumes earlier than 1883. NATURE: Volumes 1, 2, 3, 4 wanted. OBSERVATORY: The Observatory-the volumes earlier than vol. 9 are wanted. GIFTS TO THE LICK OBSERVATORY. E. S. H. We have to thank Mr. J. A. BRASHEAR for the very acceptable present of a ROWLAND concave diffraction grating ruled on speculum-metal with the unusually short radius of 21.6 inches. There are 2887 lines to the inch and the ruling is about 2% inches by I inch. Messrs. WARNER & SWASEY have also been so kind as to present the Observatory with two fine screws (with nuts) six inches long, ten threads to the inch, to be used with the photographic enlarging apparatus of the great equatorial. E. S. H. MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE DIRECTORS HELD IN THE ROOMS OF THE SOCIETY, JANUARY 30, 1892. President PIERSON presided and a quorum was present, as follows: Messrs. ALVORD, BURCKHALTER, CAMPBELL, HILL, MOLERA, PIERSON, ZIEL. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. The following candidates were duly elected: LIST OF MEMBERS ELECTED JANUARY 30, 1892. C. L. TAYLOR. Señor ENRIQUE TORIELLO Prof. L. W. UNDERWOOD. Professor L. G. WELD . Consulate of Guatemala, San Underwood Observatory, Ap pleton, Wisconsin. State University, Iowa City, Iowa. 1321 Steiner Street, S. F., Cal. The resignations of several members were read and accepted. On motion, the President and Secretary were empowered to make such changes in the diploma as they may deem desirable, and to order 500 copies printed. Adjourned. MINUTES OF the Meeting OF THE ASTRONOMICAL SOCIETY OF THE PACIFIC, HELD IN THE LECTURE-HALL OF THE CALIFORNIA ACADEMY OF SCIENCES, JAN. 30, 1892. The minutes of the last meeting were read and approved. It was voted that the thanks of the Society be returned to the California Academy of Sciences for the use of their lecture-hall. A list of thirty-eight new members elected at the Directors' meeting was read to the meeting. A number of presents was announced, and special attention was called to the beautiful colored lithograph of the lunar eclipse of November, 1888, by Prof. WEINEK, of Prague. a. The following papers were presented: The Rotation of the Sun (translation from the German of Dr. SCHMIDT), by A. C. BEHR, of Chicago. b. POGSON'S Comet and the BIELAN Meteors, by W. H. S. MONCK, of Dublin, Ireland. c. The MCKIM Observatory, by Prof. W. V. BROWN, of Greencastle, Indiana. d. When shall we have Another Glacial Epoch? by GARRETT P. SERVISS, of New York City. e. The Total Eclipse of the Moon, January 28, 1888, by Prof. Weinek, of Prague (translated by F. R. ZIEL, of San Francisco.) f. Lantern Slide Exhibition, with lecture by W. W. CAMPBELL, of Mount Hamilton. The President announced that a branch of the Society was to be organized in Pittsburg, Penn., similar to the Chicago section. A committee to nominate a list of eleven Directors and Committee on Publications, to be voted for at the Annual Meeting was appointed as follows: Messrs. José Costa (chairman), F. H. McConnell, Arthur RODGERS, HARRY DURBROW, EDWARD B. YOUNG. A committee to audit the accounts of the Treasurer and to report at the Annual Meeting was appointed as follows: Messrs. M. M. O'SHAUGHNESSY (Chairman), OTTO VON GELDERN, F. W. Zeile. |