350
mined by me, whenever necessary, so that the same catalogue can be used for years. The right-ascensions of northern stars cannot be determined here with equal accuracy, as the definition and magnifying power of the diagonal eyepiece is not quite sufficient for that purpose.
12. The standard sidereal clock by DENT continues to give perfect satisfaction, and has undergone no alteration during the year, but the platinum points of the contact springs still require constant attention and repeated readjustment. They have been cleaned three times during the year and the adjustment has been altered eight times, but this is done without any interference with the going of the clock. The chronograph and the other clocks are in good condition and have had no alterations effected during he year.
13. Standard time has been adopted and the time-ball is now dropped at 1 p.m. on the meridian 8 hours East of Greenwich (West Australian time). The ball is not dropped on Sundays nor on Government holidays. The errors of the time-ball are given in Table II. There were two failures in 1904, viz., on July 19 when the piston jammed at the top of the shaft owing to thickened oil, and on October 19 owing to a corroded wire in the circuit. From July 20 to July 27, inclusive, the time-ball was not dropped being under repair, and on August 25 owing to a typhoon. The ball was dropped successfully 293 times in 1904. The probable error was in January ±0.12, in February ±0.10, in March ±0.36, in April ±0.11, in May ±0.15, in June ±0.10, in July ±0.14, in August ±0.15, in September ±0.09, in October ±0.13, in November +0.10, and in December 03.13.
Table II.
Errors of Time-Ball in 1904.
means too late.
+means too early.
Date.
Jan. Feb. Mar. Apr. May June July Aug. Sept. Ort.
Nov. Dec.
1
0.1 +0.2
2
0.1 +0.2
0.1 1+0,3
22:
0.1
0.1 +0.5 0.1 +0.7
.0.1
0.1 0.1
+0.3
-0.2 +0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
.0.2 0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1 -0.2 0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1 0.1
-0.3 -0.2 0.1
0.1 0.1
10
0.1
11
0.1 0.1
12
0.1 0.1
13
0.1 0.1
3338:
0.1
0.1 -0.3 0.1
0.1
-0.4 0.1
0.1 0.1
-0.6 0.1
0.1 0.1
-0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
+0.2
14
0.1
0.1
0.1
*0.1
0.1
15
0.1
+0.5 1+0,2
+0.2
16
0.1
17
+0.7 0.1 +1.0
0.1
0.1 0.1
1338838 1833335
+0.3 0.1 +0.1
0.1
0.1
+0.2
0.1
0.1 0.1.
0.1
0.1 0.1 0.1
0.1
-0.2
+0.2
0.1
-0.3
0.1
0:1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
+0.2
0.1
0.1
+0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
18 +0.4 0.1 +1.2 0.1
-0.2
0.1
+0.2
0.1
19
+0.3 0.1 +1.3
0.1
0.1
-0.2
21
0.1
20 +0.2 +0.3
22 .0.2 0.1 0.1 +0.2
0.1 o.i
0.1
0.2 0.1
23
0.1
0.1
24
0.1
25
0.1
0.1
26
0.1
0.1 -0.2
1333388
0.1 0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.2
0.1 +0.8
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.1
0.1 0.1
0.1 +0.3 |
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.3
+0.4
27
0.1
0.1
0.1
28
0.1
-0.8
29
0.1
0.1
- 1.1
30
0.1
1.3
0.1
31
-1.1
33:33
0.1
0.1
1+0.6 0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
+0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
338 1333333 188666:
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1 -0.2
-0.2
180 1888 1883888 1888888 1888:
2:888888888888 188 1898 1833882
0.1 -0.3
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
-0.2
-0.4
0.1
0.1
0.1 0.1
+
0.1
0.1
-0.2
0.1
0.1
-0.2
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
0.1
+0.3
+0.3
0.1
0.1 -0.3
0.1 -0.3
0.1