the earth, would, if removed to the equator of the sun, weigh 27.9 pounds. The space passed through by descending bodies, in the first second of time, in the latitude of London, is 16.095 feet: on the sun, bodies fall with a velocity of 334.65 feet in the first second of time.

LUNAR PHENOMENA.

Phases of the Moon.

First Quarter, 3rd day at 49 min. after 10 morning.

Conjunctions of the Moon with the Planets and Stars.

PHENOMENA PLANETARUM.

Mercury in conjunction with o, in Leo, on the 1st of this month, difference of latitude 4'. Descending node on the 2nd. In conjunction with Saturn on the 11th. Greatest elongation, as an evening star, on the 12th, angular distance 27° 26'. Stationary on the 26th.

A body which weighs one pound at the equator of the earth, would, if removed to the equator of Mercury, weigh 1.03 pounds.

Venus attains her greatest north latitude on the 21st. In conjunction with x, in Leo, on the 26th, difference

of latitude 4'; with Saturn at 7 in the morning of the 31st, difference of declination 32'.

Phases of Venus.

The following are the proportions of the light and dark phases of this planet, from which it will be perceived that nearly the whole of the disc, relative to the earth, is illuminated :

August 1st.-Illuminated disc 11.9999

Dark part...... = 0.0001

A body which weighs one pound at the equator of the earth, would, if removed to the equator of Venus, weigh only 0.98 pounds.

Mars in quadrature at 15 min. after noon of the 3rd day. A body which weighs one pound at the equator of the earth, would, if removed to the equator of Mars, weigh only one-third of a pound.

The Asteroids.

Hrs. Min.

Vesta, 4th day. Right Ascension, 11 10. N. Declin. 10° 51′

Jupiter on the 1st, within 1° 39′ of the equinoctial colure, near the star numbered 513.

A body which weighs one pound at the equator of the earth, would, if removed to the equator of Jupiter, weigh 2.716 pounds. But this must be diminished a ninth part, on account of the centrifugal force due to each planet.

Eclipses of the Satellites of Jupiter.

IMMERSIONS.

7th day, at 43 min. 40 sec. after 10 night.

First satellite,

22nd

2 morning.

ཌ ྂཆོ⌘

.....

......

55

.......

10 night.

1 morning.

10 night.

... 2 morning.

It has been generally supposed, that it is impossible to observe the eclipses of the satellites of Jupiter, at sea, with sufficient precision, to determine the longitude of a ship; from experience, however, it appears that the contrary is the case. From the statement of Lieutenant Peter Lecount, R. N., it seems that, in moderate weather, these phenomena can be observed by any one who has been accustomed to use a telescope at sea, and that the three-feet glasses, with a power of about 45, in common use, on board men-of-war, are the most proper for the purpose.

As it is very troublesome to follow the satellite when the ship has much motion, Mr. L. recommends the observer to limit his attention to the times when the vessel is at the extremity of her roll or pitch. An attendant, with a watch, should be at hand to note the

times when the observer is certain that he does see the satellite, previous to immersion, and certain that he does not see it, after immersion, the mean of which is to be taken for the true time. A similar method must be adopted for emersion. With common care, Mr. L. thinks that these observations should give the longitude within fifteen or twenty miles; and those made by himself, on board the Conqueror, 74, for six months, at St. Helena, and during the passage home, came much nearer to the truth.

Saturn in conjunction with o, in Leo, on the 25th, difference of latitude 10'.

FORM OF SATURN'S RING.

August 28th.-Semi-transverse axis

Semi-conjugate axis

36".83.

1.20.

A body which weighs one pound at the equator of the earth, would, if removed to the equator of Saturn, weigh 1.01 pounds.

Uranus in opposition to the sun at 5 in the morning of the 9th; the apparent diameter at this time, though at its nearest to the earth, is scarcely 4". It is remarkable that this planet was observed as far back as the year 1690. It was seen three times by Flamstead, once by Bradley, once by Mayer, and eleven times by Lemonnier not one of whom suspected it to be a planet. This brilliant discovery was reserved for Herschel.

see

:

For the positions of the comet of Biela in this month, "Cometary Astronomy," in the Ast. Occ. for

October.

Sphere of the Fixed Stars.

Altitudes and positions of the fixed stars on the 1st of the month, at 10 in the evening.

Cassiopeia, 45° N.E.

Auriga, 10° N.N.E. Per

seus, 21° N.E. by N. Andromeda, 30° E.N.E. Aries, 8° E.N.E. Pisces, East. Pegasus, 30° E. by S. Cygnus, 73° E. by S. Aquarius, 25° S.E. Delphinus, 48° S.E. by S. Capricornus, 15° S.S.E. Aquila et Antinous, 40° S. by E. Sagittarius, South. Lyra, 76° S.S.W. Ophiucus, 40° S. W. by S. Scorpio, S.W. by S. early in the horizon. Hercules, 60° S. W. by S. Libra, S.W. by W. Corona, 50° W. by S. Boötes, 36° W. Virgo in the western horizon. Caput Draconis, 76° W.N.W. Coma Berenices, 15° N. W. by W. Ursa Major, 30° N.W. by N. Ursa Minor, 56° N.N.W. Lynx, 15° North.

TELESCOPIC OBJECTS.

Lyra. Near Vega, (a in Lyra) is a very faint, and small star. Between y and ẞ is a round mottled nebula. ẞ is a variable star, maximum and minimum brightness, third and fifth magnitudes; a series of observations have lately been completed with this star, which determined its periodical variation to be 6 days, 10 hrs. 40 min. instead of 6 days, 9 hrs. as was formerly supposed; there is, however, a probability, that the deviation of its maximum, as well as of its minimum brightness, is somewhat irregular. ɛ in Lyra, with a telescope of low power, appears only double; with a higher power, each star is seen to be double; under peculiarly favourable circumstances, a fifth star is visible-constituting & in Lyra, a quintuple star. (See plate 1, p. 16.)

'Tis midnight-deep silence reigns around, And awful is the solemn hour to sleepless Impious men; but grateful to the pious

And the good. This serious time calls forth the