The following circular has been issued by the Imperial Academy of Sciences at Vienna: -
For several years past there have been remarkably few
discoveries of comets. The cause of this fact, which seems inconsistent with
that of the wider distribution of telescopes suitable for such discoveries, may
be due to the special attention that has been given t the small planets. It is,
however, much to be regretted that there has been such a slight increase in our
knowledge of the comets, in view of the recently established connection between
shooting stars and comets. It is exceedingly desirable that we should know more
than two or three hundred out of the many thousands of comets which undoubtedly
belong to our system, especially as most of those which we know move in
parabolic orbits. Were our knowledge of comets more complete we should surely
know more meteor streams and comets belonging one to the other. Mindful of Herr
Schumacher’s words “It is natural that astronomers intrusted with the
administration of a well-furnished observatory should have no time left for
sweeping the sky so minutely and so perseveringly as is necessary for discovering faint bodies,
whilst on the contrary , it seems certain that to the many amateur astronomers
who have less extensive means of observation hardly any more useful kind of
activity could be recommended”, The Imperial Academy of Sciences at Vienna is
induced tom propose for the discovery of comets during the three years from May
31st 1869 to May 31st 1872 eight prizes annually .
consisting as the receiver may choose of a gold medal or of twenty Austrian
ducats representing its value in money.
The award of these prizes will be subject to the following
regulations: -
1. The
prize will be given only for the first eight comets discovered in each of the
three years named, and only for such comets as are telescopic at the time of
discovery, that is invisible to the naked eye. The comet must not have been
seen before by another astronomer and must be one whose appearance could ot be
predicted with certainty.
2. The
discovery must be communicated immediately and without waiting for further
observations, to the Imperial Academy of Sciences, by telegraph if practicable,
and otherwise by the earliest post. The Academy undertakes to transmit the news
immediately to other observatories.
3. The
time and place of discover with the plan and course of the comet must be given
as exactly as possible with the first notice. This first notice is to be
supplemented by such later observations as may be made.
4. If
the discovery should be confirmed by other observers, the prize will not be
awarded unless the observations of the discoverer suffice for the determination
of the orbit.
5. The
prizes will be awarded in the general meeting of the Academy held at the end of
May each year. In case the first notice of a discovery arrives between 1st
January and the end of May, the final award of the prize will be deferred till
the general meeting in May in the following year.
6. Application
for the prize must be made to the Academy within five months from the time of
the arrival of the first notice. Later applications will be considered.
7. The
Imperial Academy will procure the decision of the permanent astronomers of the
Observatory at Vienna as to the fulfilment of the conditions in Nos 1,3, and 4
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