Result of Eclipse Observation.

During the recent eclipse of the moon Professor Pickering of the Astronomical Observatory ascertained that the bright spot around the Linne crater on the surface of the moon had increased considerably during the eclipse when deprived of the heat of the sun. Professor Pickering is inclined to the belief that this was caused by a light deposit of hoar frost. The observations bore him out, showing by the most accurate kind of micrometic measurements that the spot had increased during the time the moon was obscured. That the spot is a deposit of hoar frost and not light reflected from rock is shown by the fact of its enlargement and increase of light. If the spot were stone virtually no light would have been reflected when the earth's shadow fell upon the moon.

Next month will be especially busy at the Observatory, for during that time the earth passes through the zone of meteors, and attempts will be made to take successful observations with a view to establishing some disputed theories.