THE HONGKONG GOVERNMENT GAZETTE, 15TH MAY, 1886.
427
was effected by administering a blow to the hammer at the very instant when the current arrived from the clock, which was successfully accomplished by Mr. FIGG till the 12th June, when the coil was fused by lightning. From which time till the 20th November the ball was dropped by hand, the signal being observed by myself in a telescope. Since the 22nd November the ball has been dropped by means of the new lock, which is much stronger and gives great satisfaction. The time-ball apparatus, clocks etc., were not ready till after my departure, and do not seem to have been sufficiently tested in London. Two mean-time chronometers (Dent No. 39946 and 40917) and one sidereal (Dent No. 40912) ale kept in the same room as the clocks. They are compared on Mondays and Saturdays shortly before 1 p. Their daily rates ( + means losing,-gaining rate) were as follows:-
Rate of Chronometer Dent No.
Rate of Chronometer Dent No.
Period.
Tempe- rature.
Period.
Tempe-
rature.
39946
40912
40917
39946
"40912
40917
1884.
November
3-8,...+5.44
-18.94
-1.16
10-15,...
5.36
2.44
1.56
17-22,
4.88
2.40
1.56
69
"
24-29,
3.18
2.96
1.90
62
"
Lecember
1- 6,...
4.20
2.20
1.36
65
8-13,..
3.80
2.64 2.00
62
15-20,
3.84
2.48
1.98
64
*
22-27,
2.36
2.42
2.08
62
"
29- 3,...
3.54
2..62
1.94
63
*
1885.
January
5-10,...
4.28
3.16
1.70
12-17,...
4.16
3.20
1.96
وو
19-24,..
3.94
8.08
1.98!
"
26-31,.
2.22
3.38
1.96
"
February
2- 7,..
2.74
3.16
1.72
KRONUNUNO CRASH
76° 73
May
11-16,... +5o.04
- 1o,34
-0°.82
770
18-23,...
6.36
0.76
1.00
78
وو
25-30,...
6.68
0.36
1.00 81
June
1- 6,...
5.44
0.78
1.14
81
8-13,...
6.64
0.92
0.92
79
15-20,.
5.02
-0.64
0774
81
39
22-27,...
5.36
0.64 82
29- 4,...
5.14
1.22
83
"
July
6-11,.
5.68
1.24
82
13-18,..
5.38
1.36
82
>
63
20-25,..
4.84
1.14
84
3
59
27-1,...
5.08
1.18
80
+3
59
August
3- 8,..
5.04
1.24
81.
60
10-15,...
5.40
1.32
81
58
17-22,
4.96
1.16
80
9-14,..
1.74
4.16
0.92
60
24-29,...
4.36
1.46
82
29
16-21,.
0.62
3.78
1.98
59
October
19-24,...
3..56
-4.18
2.36
76
23-28,..
4.30 3.60
2.18
58
26-31,...
3.10
2.32
2.38
78
Larch
2-7,.
1.84
2.60
1.86
63
November
2- 7,...
2.94
0.68
2.52
9-14,
0..30
3.40
1.50
61
3
•
16-21,
0.62
3.18
1.34
63
12
23-28,..
2.58
2.20
0.94
71
30- 4,...
6.86
1.84
0.60
April
6-11,...
4.42
1.56
0.69
13-18...
2.88
1.16
0.48
""
20-25,...
4.22
1.46
0.68
"?
27-2,...
8.22
0.56
0.56
i
""
May
4- 9,...!
5.74
1.60 0.88 74
3=8FFRRREN
9-14,...
3.10
3.08
2.46
་་
16-21,
3.34
3.52
1.96
"
23-28,...
1.10
3.10 3.08
,,
71
30- 5,...
2.86
2.56
3.60
76
December
7-12,...
3.56
2.18 3.28
76
14-19,...
4.04
1.44
2.98
3.
73
21-26,...
3.32
3.02
2..96
"}
74
28- 2,...
1.32
4.22
3.08
282888UER
73
71
70
66
69
68
64
69
61
It appears that the rates do not, at least within the limits of temperature here observed, follow the law represented in Lieusou's formula, which is adopted at the Observatory of the Mersey Dock and Harbour Board in Liverpool. But they may be approximatety represented as follows:
Dent No. 39946: Daily Rate + 3.64 + 0.148 (t− 70°)
""
40912:
·40917:
""
>>
19
2.06 +0.130 1. 60 + 0.041
""
""
The first named chronometer is generally useless except as a hackwatch, although occasionally it goes well for a long time, particularly when the temperature does not vary much.
The Lee Equatorial is described by Admiral SMYTH in the "Speculum Hartwellianum" and the "Celestial Cycle" and particulars concerning the magnifying powers of the eye-pieces and the scale- It is erected on masonry values of the micrometers are to be found in "Copernicus" (Vol. II p. 93).
-piers not isolated from the ground floor, which is covered by chunam, in a circular structure of 15 feet diameter, the walls of which are 7 feet high. The roof is made of wooden girders covered by canvas painted white. Owing to the length of the polar axis (12 feet) the telescope is very unsteady, any change of position of the observer causing the images to vibrate in the field. A McLEAN's star spectro- scope with low-power eye-piece combined, by JOHN BROWNING has just been adapted to the telescope, the object-glass of which appears to be still in good condition.
Sir W. THOMSON's automatic tide-gauge arrived early in the year, but has not yet been erected and worked for want of funds.
The Andromedes were observed on the 27th November. The radiant determined from the tracks -laid down was at 10 p. about 40° North Declination and 27° Rightascension, but its diameter was at It was least 3°. Between half past ten and half past eleven Mr. FIGG counted 665 shooting stars.
stimated that about 2000 an hour were visible, beginning shortly after sunset. Most of them were very small, the brightest generally of the 2nd magnitude. Few were as bright as the 1st magnitude and none observed was brighter. They were yellowish but did not leave permanent tails behind. There often came a lot at one time followed by a lull. Some were seen near the radiant but none quite statio- nary. Many long tracks were observed.
Hongkong Observatory, 24th April, 1886.
W. DOBERCK, Government Astronomer.
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