Mr. Burnham's Double-Star Measures | Nature

THE recently published volume of the Memoirs of the Royal Astronomical Society contains a further series of measures of double stars by Mr. S. W. Burnham, made with the 18-inch refractor of

the Obser vatory at Chicago. This series comprises measures of 151 double stars discovered by this eminent observer, which brings up the number of such objects discovered by him during the

last ten years to no fewer than 1013, amongst which are included some of the most interesting stars of this class; also measures of a selected list of double stars, 770 in number, made

chiefly in the years 1879 and 1880, with an appendix, the results of observa tions of several objects, as late as the middle of the past year. Every one who is interested in this branch of

astronomical science will read with much regret one remark in Mr. Burnham's introduction: he writes:—“The present catalogue will conclude my astronomical work at least so far as any regular

or systematic observations are concerned.” He expresses himself modestly respecting his own labours—“In a field so infinitely large, one can accomplish but little at the most, and how much,

or how little, the astronomers of a few centuries hence can perhaps best decide.... At this time I may venture to claim that my work in this field has been prosecuted with some enthusiasm,

and for its own sake only, and that my interest has not been divided among several specialities.”

Anyone you share the following link with will be able to read this content: