New Nebulae. – Small black hole in the milky-way – Duplicity of β¹ Capricorni.

The following objects were discovered by me on the dates given in the first column of the table below, and since I have been unable to find any description of them in the General Catalogue of Sir John Herschel, Dreyer's Supplement to the same or any of the other catalogues at my command, they are therefore announced as new.

(a ). Large faint nebula, very diffuse, not less than 10' diameter. A peculiar object with a small triple star on its n.p. border.

(b ). Faint nebula, not large, pretty even in light. A faint star close p. and slightly s. probably involved. A 6^m star is 30'± s. and f. the nebula. The place is the mean of two Equatorial pointings.

(c ). Very faint nebulosity of moderate extension; pretty even in light. A small star involved (north of middle – probably a nebulous star). A brighter star lies north and just free of the nebula. The place is from one pointing and comparison with B.A.C. 2795 which is in the same field with and north of nebula. A remarkable object.

(d ). Faint nebula. The position was obtained by Mr. Wendell at Harvard College Obs. He describes it (with the 15 inch refractor) as being »rather diffuse and faint, but gradually a little brighter in the middle«. The place is for 1882.0. This nebula has before been announced, and examined by, among others, Mr. Temple and is here inserted merely as a matter of record.

(e ). A small flickering indefinite nebula slightly elongated (e. and w.) with 5 inch refractor. Prof. Swift, with his 16 inch refractor finds it to be triple and elongated; its major axis nearly perpendicular to the meridian; a smaller nebula at each end, one of which is exceedingly faint. Its place is from one observation with the meridian circle.

(f ). A small triangular hole in the milky-way, perfectly black, some 2' diameter, very much like a jet black nebula. A bright orange star on n.p. border. A very remarkable object. The place is from a single equatorial pointing.

(g ). This is β¹ Capricorni. I find this small star to be an exceedingly close and unequal double; the estimated magnitude being 7 and 10 and the probable distance 0.6" or 0.7". But from the manner of observation, this distance can only be a surmiose, however they are evidently very close. The duplicity of this star was discovered at the time of occultation by the moon on Nov. 6^th 1883. In disappearing about 9/10 of the light was instantly blotted out, there remaining visible for the space of one second a minute star, estimated = 10 magn., this also instantly disappeared. From this it is evident the f. component is very small. Mr. Burnham and Prof. Swift with 18½ and 16 inches have tried since to separate the components; but possible from the unfavorable position of the star, have failed to do so. As confirmative of the stars duplicity, Mr. …