Abstract
THE CONSTANT OF ABERRATION.—In the year 1862, Prof. J. S. Hubbard commenced a series of observations of α Lyræ with the prime vertical instrument of the Washington Naval Observatory, which was continued by either Profs. Newcomb, Harkness, or Hall until 1867. The purpose of these observations had been to obtain corrections to the assumed values of the constants of nutation and aberration, and to afford an absolute determination of the annual parallax of the star. The series was not continued for a sufficient period for the first purpose; and Prof. Asaph Hall, when engaged on the determination of the parallax of α Lyræ by another method, found that these observations would give it a small negative value. From this and other circumstances he was at that time induced to think the observations would not repay the trouble of a careful discussion; but recently, reflecting that they had been skilfully designed, and carried out with care, he resolved to ascertain the result they would furnish for the constant of aberration. The observations commenced 1862 March 25, and extended to 1867 April 25, and were 436 in number. The mean resulting value of the parallax is—
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Our Astronomical Column . Nature 38, 185–186 (1888). https://doi.org/10.1038/038185a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/038185a0