NOTES AND GLEANINGS. DONATI'S COMET OF 1858.-Two computers have just published the results of an elaborate discussion of all the observations of this celebrated body suited for arriving at the most reliable determination of its orbit. We select those of M. Von Asten of Cologne. Period Log. m = 0'0624999 9'7622954 1858 Sept. 30'002396 0*99620173 2*1827096 1879'596 years. B. M. T. The other computer who has investigated the matter is Prof. G. W. Hill, whose paper appears in the 'Memoirs of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences,' vol. ix. ELEMENTS OF COMET IV. OF 1864 (Bäcker's).-The following new elements by Prof. Hall, of Washington, F.S.A., are deduced from observations extending over more than six weeks, and are therefore no doubt pretty exact: P.P. = 1864 Dec. 22.25 W. M. T. ELEMENTS OF COMET I. OF 1865.-The following elements are by Mr. J. R. Hind : P.P. = 1865 Jan. 14 2727 G.M.T. THE LUNAR ECLIPSE OF APRIL 11.-In the Paris Cosmos of April 19, appears a letter from M. F. Hoëfer, of Brunoy, Beauceron, containing an account of the late Eclipse of the Moon. He says, “A peculiarity which struck me, and of which I am induced to send you an account, was, that a portion of the disc (near the top, and on the right) was completely obscured, without any trace of that red colouring which is usually remarked, and which is, as you know, regarded as an effect due to the refraction of the earth's atmosphere. If, in this condition, the eclipse had been total instead of partial, the moon would have been completely invisible; it would have entirely disappeared from the sky. Eclipses showing this phenomenon are very rare. I attribute the partial disappearance of the moon to the fact that the eclipse happened when the moon was within 8° of the horizon. .It would be interesting to know whether the total eclipses, accompanied by an entire disappearance of the moon, observed by Hevelius, Maraldi, and Mädler, took place when our satellite was near the horizon. I am disposed to think that such was the case." During the eclipse, Mr. Huggins directed his spectroscopic apparatus to the penumbra on the moon's disc, and found the lines dependent on our atmosphere stronger and more numerous than in general. This is what might be expected, as the light reflected from the moon at this time consists of rays which must have passed very close to the earth, and therefore be affected by the denser portion of our aërial covering. LUNAR OBJECTS.-We have to acknowledge the receipt of Form No. 2, prepared by the Lunar Committee appointed by the British Association for the Advancement of Science. It contains a table for facilitating the arrangement of a Catalogue of Lunar Objects. We quote the following passage:-"By this arrangement, objects situated in any area of 5° of longitude and 5° of latitude may be readily designated, and very readily so after a little practice, every space on the moon being thus classified and designated by a Roman capital, with a small Greek character as the index: thus, an object situated between 40° and 45° of longitude, and 25° and 30° of latitude, will be designated by F; while another, situated between 20° and 25° of longitude, and 20 and 25° of latitude, will be designated by A, without the Greek index. It is intended to distinguish the separate objects by the Arabic numerals: thus, A6." The quadrants in which any object may be situated are pointed out by the Roman numerals I, II, III, IV; for example: IA6 indicates the spot Dionysius, which is found in quadrant I, the SW. Gentlemen desirous of taking part in the observations for the formation of the Catalogue will be furnished with copies of the form on applying to the Editor of the Astronomical Register. LUNAR PHYSICS.-The Rev. T. W. Webb has lately ascertained that an extensive lunar valley in the Arctic regions, observed and drawn by Schröter, and named by him J. J. Cassini, was not recognised by Beer and Mädler (although drawn in by them on their large map in its proper locality), in consequence of those selenographers looking for the objects in Schröter's drawing in the West instead of the East quadrant (see the Reader for January 28, 1865, p. 109). We understand that Mr. Birt has since confirmed Mr. Webb's observations as to the general accuracy of Schröter's drawing.-Tafel LXI. in vol. ii. of his Selenotopographische Fragmente. PORTRAIT OF THE MOON, engraved by the Moon itself!—The March number of the "Monthly Notices" contains an excellent representation of the moon, printed from a copper-plate untouched by the graver. The original photograph was obtained by Mr. De la Rue, by means of a 13-in. reflector; from this was procured an enlarged collodion-glass positive, which was employed to make a copper printing plate after M. Paul Pretsch's method; and the surface being hardened by coating it electrically with a deposit of iron, the prints were taken by the copper-plate press in the ordinary manner. The result is admirable; and although the sharpness of detail is not entirely preserved, the position of the craters, &c., are given with an exactitude quite unattainable by other means. THE PLANETS FOR JUNE. Mercury passes from Aries to Gemini during June, and may be seen in the mornings at the beginning of the month rising a little after 3 o'clock. I 9 Dec. N. 13 34 1st R.A. 3 30th 6 30 44 Venus passes from Aries to Diameter 7" 4 5"0 24 25 Taurus during the month, and rises about half-past 2 o'clock in the mornings at the beginning, and about half past I at the end of June. It is at its greatest brilliancy on the 13th. 1st R.A. 2 29 43 30th 3 31 9 Dec. N. 13 26 Diameter 42" 4 99 15 21 Illuminated portion of the disc of Venus=0'283. 28" 4 Mars may still be seen in the evenings, passing from Cancer to Leo during the month of June. It sets about a quarter to 12 in the evening at the beginning, and about half-past 10 at the end of the month. 1st R.A. 8 29 34 Dec. N. 20 30 30th 9 38 55 "" 15 20 Illuminated portion of the disc of Mars=0'944. Jupiter is in the constellation of Ophiuchus, and is in opposition on the 14th of June. It rises about 9 o'clock in the evenings at the beginning, and about 7 o'clock at the end of the month. 1st R.A. 17 41 59 30th 17 26 17 Dec. S. 22 56 Diameter 43" 2 43"0 Saturn remains in Virgo, and may be well observed during the evenings in June. 1st R.A. 13 33 17 Diameter 16"6 16"0 30th Dimensions of ring-Outer major axis, 41" Outer minor axis, 9". THE MINOR PLANETS. The following are the minor planets which will arrive at opposition this month. Full particulars will be found in the Supplement to the Nautical Almanac for 1868 : |