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voluntary assistance by members of the New Zealand Astronomical Society, and also to the predictions in the Handbook of the British Astronomical Association. During the year occultations were observed at Wellington on the following dates : January 19, March 22, August 9. At New Plymouth observations were made on January 12, 19, 20, 22 ; September 7 ; October 4; December 30. A total of sixteen observations was obtained, and these have been forwarded to Dr. L. J. Comrie, Superintendent of H.M. Nautical Almanac Office, London. New Zealand observations were included in a compilation and discussion of 859 occultations observed in 1931 by Professors E. W. Brown and Dirk Brouwer (Astronomical Journal, Vol. 42, No. 20). Results for 1925, 1930, and 1931 published in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association (B.A. A. Journ. Vol 43, No. 3), also includes New Zealand observations. Lunar Eclijise. The partial lunar eclipse of 1932, March 22nd, was well observed photographically and visually with the 9 in. telescope by a member of the staff. Ten photographs were obtained of the eclipsed moon at the principal focus of the 9 in. photovisual lens, and the times of occultation of two faint stars during the eclipse were observed. A note appears in the Journal of the British Astronomical Association, Vol. 42, No. 10. International Astronomical Union. By courtesy of the Central Bureau at Copenhagen, arrangements have been made to receive advice of all important astronomical discoveries. The information is forwarded by the Bureau through the Melbourne Observatory. The following information was received in this way : — (1) Discovery of a comet by Van Biesbroeck at Yerkes, March 6th. (2) Discovery of a comet by Houghton at Cape Town, April 2nd. (3) Discovery of a comet by Carrasco at Madrid on April 25th. (4) Discovery of an object by Reinmuth at Heidelberg, April 27th. (5) Observation of periodic comet Kopff, 1932, May 25th. (6) Discovery of an object by Nakamura, Japan, June Bth. (7) Discovery of a comet by Newman at Cartuja, June 20th. (8) Discovery of a comet by Schmitt on June 25th. (9) Discovery of a comet by Peltier and Whipple, August Bth. (10) Discovery of a comet by Dodwell, Adelaide, December 17th. Of these objects, Comets Houghton-Ensor and Dodwell-Forbes were observed by members of the New Zealand Astronomical Society and the results forwarded to the Dominion Observatory. Also Comet Ryves, discovered in 1931, was well observed. The results of the observations have been published in the Monthly Notes of the New Zealand Astronomical Society. Comet Geddes (1932g.). It is a pleasure to record the fact that an interesting comet of about the Bth magnitude was discovered by Mr. M. Geddes, at Otekura, Clutha County, South Otago, on 1932, June 22. The discovery was reported to the International Astronomical Union through the Melbourne Observatory, with the result that the Union Observatory in South Africa was able to obtain accurate photographic positions on June 23rd. It was well observed throughout New Zealand ; by Baldwin at Melbourne ; in South Africa ; and South America (Cordoba). Owing to the fact that on discovery it was very near the south celestial pole, it was for a time observable from only the Southern Hemisphere. As it approached the equator, however, all the northern observatories concentrating on this class of work were able to obtain good positions. The appearance of the comet for many months after discovery was that of a round nebulous object, but later at Yerkes, Van Biesbroeck detected photographically a short, thin tail. A prediscovery position of the comet has been obtained by Whipple on a plate taken at Bloemfontein, South Africa, on 1931, August 14th. ' The magnitude then was 13. From the observations made with the 9 in. at Wellington an orbit was computed. An orbit and ephemeris was received also from Dr. Bobone at Cordoba. Mr. Geddes discovered this comet with the 5 in. telescope belonging to this Observatory. It is on loan to him so long as research work is being carried out. New Zealand Astronomical Society. The observatory is greatly indebted to the members of the New Zealand Astronomical Society who carry out systematic observations. Scattered over the whole of New Zealand, it is possible at times to secure continuous results, and the defects produced in a series of observations by weatherconditions, is minimized as much as possible. These workers continually keep the Observatory informed on the work they are doing.

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