The Sun.
London, England, 1858-01-02 00:00:00

ASTRONOMICAL NOTES.

During the past year astronomers have been pecu-
liarly active, as the following brilliant list of discoveries
will testify :
A. cotter, No. 1., by Dr. D'Arrert, at Leipsic, Feb.
22, visible for about eight weeks.
A cornet, No. 11., by M. Brutens, at Berlin, March
18, visible for about eleven weeks.
A planet (43), by Mr. N. Pogson, at Oxford, April
15, named Ariadne.
A planet (44), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, May 27,
named Nysa.
A planet (45), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, June 28,
named Eugenia.
A comet, No. 111., by M. Klinkerfues, at Gottingen,
June 22, visible for about four weeks.
A comet, No. IV., by M. Dieu, at the Imperial Ob-
servatory, Paris, July 28, visible for about four weeks.
This comet was discovered also by Dr. C. H. F. Peters,
at Dudley, United States, on the 25th ; and by Professor
Habicht, at Gotha, July 30.
A pl teet (46), by Mr. N. Pogson, at Oxford, Aug.
16, named Ifestia.
A comet, No. V., by M. KUnkerfues, at Gottingen,
Aug. 20, visible for about six weeks. This comet in its
advances towards the sun threw out a small tail.
A planet (47), by M. Luther, at Bilk, Sept. 15.
A planet (48), by M. Goldschmidt, at Paris, Sept. 19,
named Palos.
Another planet (49). by the same person and on the
same evening, named Doris,
A planet (50) by Mr. Ferguson, at Washington,
United States, Oct. 5, named Virginia. This planet was
also found Oct. 16, by M. Luther, at Bilk.
A comet, No. VI., by Dr. Donati, at Florence, Nov.
10, visible for about five weeks.—Total, six comets and
eight planets.
Among the chief phenomena of the incoming year we
have the following I
A partial eclipse of the moon on Feb. 27, visible at
Greenwich.

G. M. T.
First contact with the pennealara 7b. 46m. 9s.
First contact with the shadow 9h. 10m. Os.
Middle of the eclipse lOl3. 13m. 6s.
Last contact with the shadow llh. 17m. 2s.
Last contact with the penumbra l2h. 40m. 38.
At the time of the middle of the eclipse about one-
third of the moon will be obscured on the southern or
lower limb,
An annular eclipse of the sun on March 15, visible (as
a partial one) at Greenwich.
G. M. T.
Eclipse begins
Greatest phase
Eclipse ends
The magnitude of the eclipse (0.976 of sun's diameter)
is such that it will b 3 nearly total at Greenwich. The
line of annular eclipse p3sses across Englai,d from Peter,
t-..r.tigh to Bridport. The aenulu4, nowever, will only
continue a few seconds. This wi Ibe in oi..ny respects
a very interesting eclipse, since it is the only one that
has been visible in England for many years, and more-
over, it will occur when the sun is very favourably placed
for observation.
Mars will be in opposition on the 15th of May.
There will be a partial eclipse of the moon on the
24th of August, but only visible in Asia.
There will also be a total eclipse of the sun oa the
6th of September but as it will only be visible iniSouth
America and the Cape, we omit the details.
There s;x occultations of the planets by the
Jnoon—namely, one of Mercury, two of Venue, and of
z;!y.! two ~t Saturn ; bat they will ho invisible in
fxofi; t the second of Stturn, which b;Tpen
on the 22d of Dscember.
In addition to the above, the c3eiets of D'Arrert
(1851), Faye, and Encke may be expected to return in
the course of the present year.