A Table showing the Illuminated Portions of the Discs of Venus and Mars.

THE numbers in this table are the versed sines of that portion of the discs which, to an observer on the Earth, will appear to be illuminated, the apparent diameters of the planets at the time being considered as unity.

To a spectator on the Earth, Venus appears most brilliant when between her greatest elongation and her inferior conjunction. The inferior conjunction will take place May 10th, 1857, and the planet will appear with the greatest brightness in March, April, the latter part of May, and

in June.

Mars is most brilliant about the time of his opposition to the Sun, being then also nearest to the Earth. The opposition will not occur in 1857.

Position and Magnitude of the Rings of Saturn, according to Bessel and Struve, for every Fortieth Day of the Year, at 7 hours in the Morning.

1857.

44.31

о

January 15-7 9.7 46.48-1996 30.91 -13.28-25 26.2-25 8.8 February 24 7 2.8

25.56.0 24 53.3

19.38 29.47 12.89

April 5

7 5.0

41.20

18.01

27.40 11.98

25 55.7 24 36.7

May

15

June

a the apparent outer major axis of the outer ring.

outer minor axis of the outer ring; + North surface visible, South surface visible.

αν σε

66

inner major axis of the inner ring.

inner minor axis of the inner ring.

l the elevation of the Earth above the plane of the ring, as seen from Sat

l' the elevation of the Sun above the plane of the ring, as seen from Saturn; + North, South.

LATITUDE AND LONGITUDE OF THE PRINCIPAL PLACES IN THE UNITED STATES, ETC.*

[The Longitudes are reckoned from Greenwich.]

The Capitals (Seats of Government) of the States and Territories are desig nated by Italic Letters.

The positions contained in this table have been derived from that given in the American Almanac for 1841; with additions and corrections from the determinations of the Coast Survey, and of the United States Topographical Engineers.