gives an account of one at Rome. At a more refined period of the science, in 1576, Dante placed in the south wall of the church of St. Petronia, at Bologna, a brass plate, inclined to the wall 45°, which was the latitude of the place; the height of which, from the ground, was 66 feet. The sun's image was transmitted through a hole in this brass plate, to the marble pavement of the church, on which was traced the meridian line, which extended 169 feet; on this line were marked the equinoxes and solstices. In 1645, in the same church, the celebrated Cassini, drew another meridian line; he placed his plate of perforated metal, in the roof of the church. In commemo ration of this performance, a medal was struck, on one side was the profile of Cassini, on the reverse, the church of St. Petronia, through the roof of which, a ray of light is proceeding from the sun, which, falling on the pavement, determines the time of the sun's passage of the meridian. The accompanying is a copy of this medal. SOLAR PHENOMENA. The sun enters Scorpio at 55 min. after 9 of the morning of the 23d of this month. Conjunctions of the Moon with the Planets and Stars. October 4th, with Uranus 7th, Jupiter .... PHENOMENA PLANETARUM. Mercury at his greatest north latitude on the 5th of this month. In conjunction with in Virgo, on the 15th, difference of latitude 16'. In superior conjunction with the sun, at 2 in the afternoon of the 23rd. In conjunction with in Virgo, on the 26th, difference of latitude 14'. Descending node on the 28th. Venus in conjunction with λ in Virgo, on the 8th, difference of latitude 10'. Descending node on the 16th. Phases of Venus. The following are the proportions of the bright and dark phases of this planet : Mars will be stationary on the 14th. In conjunction with 2 k in Taurus, at 11 in the morning of the 28th. K The Asteroids. Hrs. Min. Vesta, 3rd day. Right Ascension, 13 0 S. Declin. 1° 9' Hrs. Min. Pallas, 19th day. Right Ascension. 23 25 S. Declin. 11° 17′ Ceres in opposition on the 31st, in a line with, and equally distant from v and Menkar, in Cetus; a line drawn from and y in the same constellation, will pass through the asteroid. Ceres is of a ruddy colour, surrounded with nebulosity, which gives it the appearance of a comet; it shines as a star of the eighth magnitude. Eclipses of the Satellites of Jupiter. EMERSIONS. First Satellite, 1st day at 45 min. 48 sec. after 9 night. Third Satellite, 19th day at 54 min. 2 sec. after 10 night. .... 1.... 25 8 Saturn in conjunction with ẞ in Virgo, at 3 in the 34 .... 53 .... 10 9 night. 45 .... 10 night. morning of the 30th. SATURN'S RING. Saturn's Ring is only visible under the circumstances referred to in the last month. Uranus stationary on the 25th, near in Capricornus. Sphere of the Fixed Stars. Capricornus west, and Aquarius east, of the meridian, on the 1st day, at 8 in the evening. Capricornus is bounded on the north and east by Antinous and Aquarius; south by Pisces Australis, and west by Sagittarius. Aquarius, is bounded on the north by Equuleus and Pegasus; east by Pisces and Cetus; south by Pisces Australis, and Apparatus Sculptoris, and west by Capricornus and Antinöus. Telescopic Objects. Capricornus. a in this constellation, to the unassisted sight, is a double star, each of which is a double star; 1 a presents one of the most beautiful and delicate objects in the heavens; it is a difficult telescopic object. B, ε, E, o, are double stars. σ is double, the large star, red, the small, dusky blue. of a reddish white colour. p is a triple star. Above the shoulders of Capricornus are nebulæ, one of which is planetary. 11 is also double, both stars Aquarius. B is a small star, the large star white, the small dusky. is double, both stars white. T, 4, X, and 24, are double stars. A variable star, near & in the River of Aquarius. v is a triple star. v is a triple star. In the head of Aquarius, is a nebulous star; it has the appearance of a comet surrounded with nebulosity. COMETARY ASTRONOMY. Remarkable Comets. The Comet of Biela, or Comet of 1832. This comet was discovered on the 27th February 1826, by M. Biela, at Josephstadt in Bohemia, appearing as a small round nebulosity; it was seen by M. Gambart, at Marseilles, 9th March following, and afterwards observed at most of the European Observatories. It continued visible till the beginning of May. On determining the elements of this comet, it was soon found, that these had a great resemblance to comets which had appeared in the years 1772, and 1806; a closer investigation proved the identity of the three. An anomaly, however, appeared in the period of revolution, which in one of its returns was completed in 2460 days, and in the other, 2469 days; this inequality was found to be owing to the action of the planet Jupiter, near which the comet had passed in the years 1782, 1794, and 1807; allowing for these perturbations, and a similar influence in May 1831, the following are the elements, as calculated by M. Damoiseau : Passage of the perihelion 1832, November, 27.4808. Paris. Meantime, reckoning from midnight.— Longitude of the Perihelion.... 109° 56′ 45′′ Longitude of the ascending node, 248 12 24 Eccentricity Semi-axis major 13 13 13 0.7517481 3.53683 The following computed places, will facilitate the dis covery of the comet on its return :— August 4th. The comet, near 12-a double star in |