Our Astronomical Column

Abstract

A CATALOGUE OF “COMPARISON” STARS.—Dr. N. M. Kam of Schiedam has published in Verhandelingen iler Koninklijke Akademe van Wetenschapfen, Deel. xxiv. (Amsterdam), a star catalogue compiled from the places of stars determined by meridian observations, which have been extracted from vols. i. to Ixvi. of the Astronomischie Nachrichten, and reduced to the epoch 1855.0. The positions of the stars contained in this catalogue were determined in connection with observations of planets and comets, and it was in compliance with Argelander's express desire that the work of collecting them and reducing the positions to a common epoch was commenced by Hoek, then Director of the Utrecht Observatory. Dr. Kam, who was Hoek's assistant, continued the work after the death of the latter, and has at length been able to publish his results. The principal catalogue contains the completely determined places of 4350 stars, and is followed by two subsidiary catalogues, the first giving the places of 236 stars, and the second those of 335 stars; all of the latter, however, are incomplete, i.e. the place is given in one element only. The catalogues are followed by a ocomparison of the places of the stars contained in them with their places as given in the Bonn Durchmustening, or, for stars south of - 2° Decl., with other authorities. Notes on proper motions, corrigenda, c., are appended, which are of considerable interest and value. We hope that the work of collecting and cataloguing the class of stars here dealt with will be continued either by Dr. Kam or by some other astronomer as well fitted for the task as he has proved himself to be.