Its ascending node was on January 1st, 1820, in 103° 13′ 18′′.2, with an apparent annual motion of + 15′.63.

The eccentricity of its orbit is 0.089130; half the major axis being considered as unity: subject to an annual increase of .000004009.

The greatest equation of the centre is 10° 13′ 22′′. Its mean distance from the sun is 2.367870; that of the earth being unity; the distance in miles 224,778,755. Its mean diameter in miles 238.

Proportional quantity of light and heat, the earth being unity .17835.

Jupiter in conjunction with μ in Capricornus on the 5th, difference of latitude 14'.

Eclipses of the Satellites of Jupiter.

EMERSIONS.

First satellite, 15th day at 49 min. 39 sec. after 5 evening. Third satellite, 21st...... 40 .... 43 .... 5

........

FORM OF SATURN'S RING.

January 1st.-Semi-transverse axis

Semi-conjugate axis

43".17

2.05

Uranus between and in Capricornus on the 1st

day.

Sphere of the Fixed Stars.

Survey of the principal stars on the 1st of the month, at 8 in the evening.

Perseus in the Zenith. A line drawn from Algol in the head of Medusa, through y in the Hyades, will pass through Rigel in the foot of Orion. The Pleiades, Hyades, and belt of Orion, are in the same right line. Capella in Auriga, and ẞ in Taurus point to in Orion. A line connecting Aldebaran in Taurus, and Sirius in

Canis major, will pass near, and parallel to, the three stars that form the belt of Orion. Rigel, the middle star in the belt, and Betelgeux, in the shoulder of Orion, are in the same right line. The Pleiades, and ẞ in Taurus, point out Pollux in Gemini. A line drawn through the middle star in the belt of Orion, and Procyon in Canis minor, will pass through Regulus in Leo. Procyon, and Castor in Gemini, point to the north pole of the heavens. Sirius and Procyon are nearly equally distant from Betelgeux; these three stars nearly form an equilateral triangle. Aldebaran is the summit of an isosceles triangle, of which Procyon and Sirius form the base. When Menkar in the head of Cetus, and Algol, are on the meridian south of the pole, the stars in the head of Boötes are passing the meridian below the pole. Mirach and Almaak, in Andromeda, are in the same line with in Perseus. A right line will nearly connect y in Perseus, & and in Cassiopeia, with Deneb, y and B in Cygnus. Markab, Scheat, and Algenib, in Pegasus, and Alpheratz, the star in the head of Andromeda, form a quadrangle, usually denominated by seamen the square of Pegasus. Alpheratz and Algenib are nearly in the equinoctial colure. The northern star in the belt of Orion is in the equinoctial. ẞ in Taurus, and Bellatrix, the star in the left shoulder of Orion, pass the meridian together. When Delphinus is setting, Regulus is rising. As Lyra approaches the northern horizon, Sirius appears in the south-east. The principal stars in Cygnus are arranged in the form of a cross,-k the summit, and ß the foot; y, d, e, form the arms; in this month it appears erect above the horizon in the N.W. by W.

The following stars will serve as a measure for esti

mating the distance of celestial objects from each other: the stars in the belt of Orion are one and a half degree separated from each other. The distance between Castor and Pollux is three and a half degrees. The distance of Bellatrix and Betelgeux (the stars in the shoulders of Orion) is eight degrees. The middle star in the belt of Orion, and Betelgeux, are ten degrees apart.

TELESCOPIC OBJECTS.

Aries. In this zodiacal constellation ß, y, ɛ, λ, 14, 33, and 41, are double stars. is a triple star; the stars of which it is composed are arranged in a line; the largest star is white, the other two are mere points. In Triangulum (an asterism above Aries) к, ɛ and ɩ are double ẞ is larger than κ, and is supposed to have changed its magnitude. Near Triangulum is Musca, in which the star numbered 39 is double.

Cetus. In this constellation, y, ɛ, v, 26, 61, 68, and 94, are double stars: above is a nebula, and another near 8. Mira is a variable star; period of variation, 331 dys. 10 hrs. 19 min.: at its maximum brightness it is of the second magnitude; its light gradually diminishes till it disappears. x also disappears periodically: at its greatest brilliancy it seems of the fifth magnitude. k in Cetus has probably changed its magnitude: it is now less bright than B.

Andromeda. In the right foot of Andromeda is a collection of nebulous stars. 14 is a round, bright, well-defined, planetary disc, 15" in diameter. y is a double double star, and one of the most beautiful objects in the heavens--the larger star is red, the smallest of a sky-blue color. Near ẞ is a nebula. ẞ, μ, and ν,

point very nearly to the large nebula in the girdle of Andromeda,-its position is a little to the west of v; there are smaller nebulæ near it.

Perseus. is a beautiful triple star. Near 21 is a double star-the large star yellow, the small blue. The clusters of stars near x, is one of the most splendid telescopic views in the heavens-when the atmosphere is very pure, it suggests the idea of a hemisphere of stars. In this constellation there are no fewer than eight nebulæ. Algol is a variable star; period of variation, 2 days, 20 hrs. 48 min. 58".7, at its maximum brightness, it is of the second magnitude, its minimum of the fourth.

THE STAR OF BETHLEHEM.

Then thy fair star, Benevolence, that shed
Its radiance o'er Messiah's lowly bed,
Formed and commissioned by its purpose high,
Sprung from the bosom of infinity;

Paid its descended Lord the homage due,
And veiled its flaming forehead, and withdrew.
Perchance, its mission done, retraced its course,
Merged in the depths of light's eternal source;
Perchance, reserved, when at the Judge's seat
Time and Eternity again shall meet,
In milder glory o'er his path to burst,
And grace his second advent as the first;
Ordained to temper with benignant glow,
The frown of Justice on that awful brow,
And tell the ransomed bondsmen of the tomb,
Of Love that saved them from a darker gloom;
Perchance, in sight of heaven's adoring powers,
To blaze for ever o'er its topmost towers,
(Where floats the standard of the cross unfurled,)
The badge and trophy of a rescued world.

"The Pleasures of Benevolence"

b

A Table of the Transits of the Moon and Planets.

These transits are inserted according to astronomical time, the day being supposed to begin at noon, or twelve hours later than the civil day, and is continued through the twenty-four hours, or to the succeeding noon, when the next day begins. Thus in the following table, the moon transits the meridian, first day, 23 hrs. 29 min. astronomical time, which corresponds with 29 min. after 11 of the morning of the second day, according to civil reckoning From noon to midnight, the day of the month and the hour of the day are the same in both methods, from midnight to noon they differ.