at 11 o'clock in the evening, he noticed a small bright object like a star of the eighth or ninth magnitude, in the constellation of Orion, at a point where no object had been previously observed. The occurrence of clouds prevented any further observation until 3 o'clock, when the change of place during the four hours that had elapsed since it was first beheld, was so marked as to decide at once the planetary nature of the body.

513. The name of Flora was given to the planet, and a flower called the rose of England was selected as its emblem. The light of Flora is of a reddish hue, her mean distance from the sun, is 209,826,000 miles, and her periodic time 1,193 days. The inclination of the plane of her orbit to the ecliptic is 5° 53' 03", a little more than that of Iris. The diameter of the planet has not yet been ascertained.

METIS.

514. On the 25th of April, 1848, Mr. Graham, of Markree Castle in Ireland, detected a star of the tenth magnitude in a position where none had been noticed before. On the following evening it had changed its position so decidedly as to establish at once its nature as a planet. It received the name of Metis, and a star with an eye constitutes its sign.

515. Metis shines with a fainter light than Flora and Iris, and requires a good telescope to see her well. The magnitude of this asteroid has not yet been determined. It revolves about the sun in 1,347 days, at the mean distance of 227,387,000 miles, its orbit having an inclination to the plane of the ecliptic of 5° 35′ 55′′.

HYGEIA. (10

516. Scarcely a year elapsed after the discovery of Metis before another member was added to this numerous cluster of planets, for on the 12th of April, 1849,

Relate all that is said respecting Flora? When and by whom was Metis discovered? What is said respecting it? What is the magnitude of this asteroid, periodic time, solar distance, and what the inclination of her orbit?

Dr. Gasparis, the assistant astronomer at the Royal Observatory at Naples, observed a star of between the ninth and tenth magnitude, in a situation where no star had been visible at any previous examination. The obscurity of the sky prevented any further observations until the evening of the 14th, when the object had perceptibly changed its place, thus proving itself to be a planet. It has received the appellation of Hygeia.

517. No measurements have been made of the diameter of the planet, its distance from the sun is about 300,322,000 miles, and its periodic time is nearly 2,044 days. The inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic is estimated at 3° 47' 11.

518. The symbol of Hygeia, is a circle inclosing the figures denoting the number of the asteroid in the order of discovery'.

PARTHENOPE 11

519. On the 11th of May, 1850, Dr. Gasparis succeeded in discovering another planetary body; for on the evening of this day he observed a bright object shining like a star of the ninth magnitude which perceptibly changed its position among the fixed stars. Upon the news of the discovery astronomers were on the alert, and before the end of the month the asteroid was seen from many of the European observatories. To identify it with the place of its discovery, the new planet was called Parthenope, a nymph of mythology after whom the city of Naples was formerly called. The periodic time of Parthenope is estimated by astronomers to be 1,401 days, her mean solar distance 233,611,000 miles, and the inclination of her orbit 4° 36′ 54′′.

1. This system of symbols was proposed by eminent astronomers, after a large number of the asteroids had been discovered, and there was every reason for believing, from the previous success in this field of research, that many others were yet to be found.

When, by whom, and under what circumstances was the next planet detected? What name was given it? What is its diameter, solar distance, and periodic time? What is the inclination of the orbit of Hygeia? What is the symbol of Hygeia? State what is said in the note in respect to symbols? When did Dr. Gasparis discover another planet? How was the discovery made? Was the new asteroid soon identified? What name was assigned it? Why? What is known respecting the periodic time, solar distance, and the inclination of the orbit of Parthenope?

VICTORIA, OR CLIO.

520. On the 13th of September, 1850, Mr. J. R. Hind, the discoverer of Flora and Iris, observed in the constellation of the Winged Horse (Pegasus,) a star of the eighth magnitude, near another which had frequently before been examined without the presence of its bright attendant being noticed. A peculiar appearance which it presented satisfied the observer that a planet was in sight, and that it was a new one, for all the known members of the asteroid group were then in different parts of the heavens. In less than an hour the bright object had moved visibly to the west, at such a rate as to leave no doubt that it was another planet belonging to the group existing between Mars and Jupiter.

521. The names of Clio and Victoria have been proposed by Mr. Hind from whence to select an appellation for the planet. The discoverer and the principal European astronomers have chosen the former, while their American brethren prefer the latter. The symbol of Victoria is a star surmounted by a laurel branch.

522. This asteroid revolves about the sun in 1,302 days at the mean distance of 222,373,000 miles, the inclination of her orbit being 8° 23' 7". When beaming with her greatest brilliancy, Victoria resembles a bluish star of the eighth magnitude, but at other times, when her distance from our globe is much increased, she shines with scarcely more light than a star of the eleventh magnitude. Nothing is known respecting her actual size.

EGERIA.

523. On the 2nd of November, 1850, Dr. Gasparis, the discoverer of Hygeia and Parthenope, detected the thirteenth member of the asteroidal group in the constellation of the Whale, (Cetus,) the region where Olbers had made his examinations. The planet is much fainter than

State when and by whom Victoria or Clio was discovered? Give an account of this discovery? Which name is adopted in Europe? Which in America? What is the symbol of Victoria? Periodic time? Solar distance? Inclination of her orbit? What is said respecting her brightness and appearance? Do we know any thing in regard to her real magnitude? When was Egeria discovered? By whom?

IRENE EUNOMIA.

233

Victoria, and shines as a star of the ninth magnitude. The name of Egeria has been given to this body. The period of its revolution about the sun is 1,505 days, its mean solar distance 244,940,000 miles and the inclination of its orbit to the ecliptic 16° 33′ 7′′.

IRENE.

524. Another asteroid was discovered by Mr. J. R. Hind in the constellation of the Scorpion on the 19th of May, 1851, and four days afterwards by Dr. Gasparis of Naples. It appeared to the discoverer as a blue star of between the eighth and ninth magnitude, and seemed to be invested with a dim hazy envelope like an atmosphere, which was not discerned around those stars which shone with equal brightness. Within half an hour of the time when it was first seen its planetary nature was established beyond dispute.

525. The planet received the name of Irene, in allusion to the general peace then prevailing throughout Europe. The emblem of this asteroid is a dove with an olive branch and a star on its head. According to the most reliable calculations the solar distance of Irene is 246,070,000 miles, and her periodic time 4,15 years, or 1,516 days. The inclination of her orbit to the ecliptic is estimated at 9° 5′ 33′′.

EUNOMIA. 15

526. The labors of Dr. Gasparis were still further crowned with success, for on the night of the 29th of July, 1851, another small planet was discovered by this astronomer, shining as a star of the ninth magnitude. Dr. Gasparis gave this planet the name of Eunomia, who according to the classic poets, was a sister of Irene. Eunomia revolves about the sun in a period of 1,574

What is her magnitude, periodic time, solar distance, and the inclination of her orbit? State when, by whom, and under what circumstances Irene was discovered? Why so called? What is her symbol? What is her solar distance, periodic time, and the inclination of her orbit? Who discovered Eunomia, and when? What is her magnitude? What her periodic time?

days, and at the distance of 252,300,000 miles. The inclination of her orbit is 11° 43′ 50′′.

527. The rest of the newly discovered planets have been found so rapidly that at present very little is known respecting them, except their elements', and even these are not yet ascertained with perfect exactness.

PSYCHE. 16

528. This asteroid also was discovered by Dr. Gasparis on the 17th of March, 1852. It appears like a star of between the tenth and eleventh magnitude. The solar distance of Psyche is 278,630,000 miles, and the inclination of her orbit 3° 3' 37". Her periodic time is 1,835 days.

THETIS. (17

529. Thetis was discovered by Mr. Luther at the observatory of Bilk near Düsseldorf, on the 19th of April, 1852. The light of this planet is very faint. Its dis tance from the sun is 222,600,000 miles, the inclination of the plane of its orbit to that of the ecliptic, 5° 42′ 32", and its periodic time 1,310 days.

MELPOMENE. 18

530. Mr. J. R. Hind discovered on the 24th of June, 1852, the eighteenth asteroid to which the above name was given. It appeared like a star of the ninth magnitude, shining with a steady yellowish light. The solar distance of Melpomene is 218,080,000 miles, the inclination of her orbit 10° 10′ 38′′, and her periodic time 1,270 days.

1. The elements of a planet are certain particulars respecting it, which are necessary to be known, in order to ascertain its position in the heavens at any time. They are,

1. The mean longitude of the planet at any particular date.

2. Longitude of the perihelion.

3. Longitude of the nodes.

4. Eccentricity of the orbit.

5. Inclination of the plane of the orbit to that of the ecliptic.

6. The periodic time of the planet.

7. Its mean distance from the sun.

Solar distance, and the inclination of her orbit? What is said respecting the rest of the newly discovered planets? Give an account of Psyche, Thetis, Melpomene.