New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1873-12-26
ASTRONOMY FOR 1873.
A SUMMARY BY PROF. HARDWOOD.

A SUMMARY BY PROF KfRKwOoD.
To me Editor or The Tribune.
SIR: The following brief sketch of the progress OF
Astronomy during the year 1873 may not be without
interest to some OF your readers.
New Acknowledgment minor planets have been
discovered since the commencement of the current
year. all in our own country Four Of these were de-
tected by Prof. Watson of Ann Arbor: three by Dr.
Peters of Clinton New-YOrk The race between these
distinguished observers has been recently quite inter
esting The astronomer of Clinton is still slightly
ahead though closely pressed by his industrious
rival The discoveries of the present year make the
whole number of known asteroids 1874.
Comets-Beside the return of three periodic com
cts previously observed, four others have passed
their perihelia during the year 1873 On the Sd of
April NJ. Stephan OF Marselles detected the second
comet of 1867. This body, on its first observed ap-
proach to the sun, was discovered by NJ. Tempe
Its period which is a little over six years. varies
considerably on account of Jupter's disturbing in-
huence. Its orbit approaches nearly the circu-
lar form than that of any other known comet. Two
other comets of short perod-those of Brorsen and
Faye-were rediscovered by the same fortunate OBJ
server the former on the lst and the latter on the
Sd of September.
On the third of July NJ Tempel Of Milan discovered
telescope comet, (which proved to be member of
the Jovian group. It's period is five years and two
months its motion is direct and its orbit has about
the same eccentricty as that of Faye's comet
The other comets of the year presented no phenom-
ena of special interest. II isremargable that while
the seven asteroids were all discovered in America
the seven comets all detected in Europe.
Memors.-A number of valuable astronomical
memoirs have been read during the year before the
various scientific societies in Europe and America.
At tho April meeting of the National Academy, Prof.
Alexander of Princeton read paper of great interest
on the HarmOnies of the Solar System. Several
papers the mutual relations of the planetary
orbits have been communicated to the American
Philosophical Society by Prof Chase Of Philadel-
pha. AT the Paris Academy of Sciences, Leverrler
has presented two or three elaborate memoirs
on tho theory of the four outer planets.
Prof. Newcomb is understood to have CON-
pleted his Investigation OF the orbit OF
Uranus and we may expect his work to DO shortly
q few months since read paper before the Royal
Society of Tasmania giving the results OF his recent
observations on the great nebula ia ArgO. These
observations are Of great interest az indicating
process of rapid transformation where it was sup
posed the changes must be OF o secular character.
"The dark spaces in the nebula" Dir. Abbott re-
marks ARE extending and becoming moro unde-
the year preceding the date of Mr.. Abbotts memoir:
the number of visible stars in the dark portions of
the nebula had increased fully so per cent
Important papers have also been published by
Mr. r. A. Proctor, the distinguished Secretary OF the
Royal Astronomical Society, Prof. Watson of Ann
year has not been distinguished by any astronom-
ical discovery of extraordinary brlIlancy the
science has certainly made substantial progress.
Bloomington, Ind, Dec. IL, 1873 Ks