Abstract
TABLES FOR FINDING LATITUDE VARIATIONS.—Prof. S. C. Chandler gives, in the Astronomical journal (No. 392), tables for finding the variations of latitude for the present year, these being a continuation of those published in an earlier number o the same journal (No. 193). The formulæ used in the computation were derived entirely from observations made previous to 1894˙0, so that, as is suggested, a good opportunity is given of comparing the theoretical with the observational places obtained since that date. Such a comparison made by him shows that only an average difference without regard to sign of ± 0″˙041 is indicated, a quantity sensibly not greater than the uncertainty of the observed points themselves. This satisfactory conclusion shows us then that predictions of the movements of the pole may, with no reasonable doubt, be made for several years beforehand. From an investigation, which Prof. Chandler has in hand, he informs us that a discussion of the whole series of observations from 1889 to 1896˙5, demonstrates that the radius of the 428-day revolution has been diminishing in accordance with the law given by him (Equation 52, Astr. Journ., 322), but at a slightly greater rate. He further adds that a comparison of the observations at Kasan in 1895 and 1896, in conjunction with those made in Central Europe, confirms the fact of the “remarkable eccentricity of the annual ellipse which was developed from the previous European and American observations.”
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Our Astronomical Column. Nature 55, 329 (1897). https://doi.org/10.1038/055329a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/055329a0