Weekly national intelligencer. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1841-1869, 1854-05-13
SCIENTIFIC.

We give below an interesting extract from the Report of
the Council to thu thirty Annual General Meeting
of tho Royal Astronomical Society, February TO- 1864
Our Transatlantic brethren continue cultivate the
various branche Of astronomy with the perseverng
energy which his already secured for them honorable
position in the scientific world Their labors during
the have been sgnazed by the publication of
what is intended to form the first volume Of Astrono
mca Ephemeis work resembling in its main features
the Nautical 4 imanac and other similar Ephemerides
which are published annually in the principal countries
of Europe Abrief account Of this important production
has already appeared in the Monthly Notices is hardly
necessary state that the expense of publication is de-
fayed BY tie Government Of the United States which
has on seera former occasions exhibited gratifying
proof Of it, enlightened zeal in promoting the advance
ment Of astronomical science Lieut.. DAVIS of the Unit
ed States layy has been appointed 70 the general super
ntsndenceof the Ephemers the arrangements
ed with tn theoretical department have been conded
Professor EIRcE The cordiality and zeal with which
various individuals Of acknowledged competence residing
in dieren parts of the Union co-operaed in executing
large potion Of the aborious calculations required
this work cannot be too strongly applauded by every
lover of scnce while such spontaneous efforts cens-
tute as faprable could be desired of the -
ture of emnence which, in all human probability
is in storefor American astronomy
The Ouncil can only briefly refer to the American
Lunar Tales which have been recently published in
nexion viii the Ephemcris above mentioned These
tables ardounded Planas theory of the moon mod-
fed by tn recent researches of Airy Hansen and Long
streth. The artificial mode of forming the arguments
which ha been employed by Mayer, Burg, and Burck-
hardt is elected the expressions for the coordnates of
the moon, place having the form which they
when dethced directly from theory subject to slight
modification OF the expression for the latitude which
citates ne process Of computation, while it leaves the
connexo with theory still obvious But the popularity
by whchthese tables differ from all other lunar tables
consists their being constructed give the values
OF the Arguments in time instead OF the circle This
mode Of construction which had been already employs
successfully by Carn in his solar tables doubtless affords
70
quesonrcers to the theory Of the moons notion which
is Vastly extensive subject it would be premature
to pronounce opinion its merits without some actre
/ experience of its workings.
" Witt respect to several other investigations which
the publication of the American Ephemers has given rise
to th part Of American astronomers the Council can
only abide determination Of the suns semi diameter
by Professor Winlock from observations made at Green
witch by Bradley and Maskeyne with Birds mural quad
rant and from the Greenwich observations made with
the mural circles between the years 1856 and 1851 under
the superintendence of the present Astronomer Royal
The anomalous character Of the results derived from the
modern observations induced Professor Wnlook to scru
tnze the data closely when it appeared probable
from comparison of the determinations OF the different
observers collected together into separate groups that
the Inconsistencies were attributable to cause which
constant for the observer but which operated
differently with respect different observers This
cuson agrees with the result Of investigation of the
SUNS horizontal diameter which had been undertaken
about the same time by NJ Goujhn French astronomer
and which was founded upon observations of the ransts
OF the opposite limbs of the made in recent years of
the oosevstories Of Paris and Greenwich. M. Goujon
ound that he time occupied by the transit OF the sum-
DISK over the meridian not sensiby affected by the
use Of daphragms oS different shapes and Sizes whence
it was manifest that the Inconsistencies which presented
themselves when the mean results Of the different obser
vers compared together regards both the Obser
vatores above mentioned, could not be attributable to
diraction If the discor9ance is due to irradiaton
which is exceedingly probable, it would to confirm
the theory of this principle originally suggested by
Calico, viz. that it is physiological effect which is
liable to be modified by the peculiar constitution of the
eye of the observer