Abstract
THE WASHINGTON CATALOGUE.—A second edition, as it is termed, of this extensive and useful work has been published, and will be found to be an even more important aid to the practical astronomer than the former one, which appeared as an appendix to the Washington volume for 1871, and to which reference has been made in this column as the “Washington General Catalogue.” Like the first edition, it was prepared for publication by the late Prof. Yarnall, who died suddenly after a few hours' illness on February 27, having been an astronomer at the United States Naval Observatory for twenty-six years. In a note prefixed to this second edition, Admiral Rodgers, the present superintendent of the Observatory, handsomely acknowledges the extent and value of Prof. Yarnal's labours. A large majority of the observations upon which the catalogue is founded were made by him, as well as the computations, and the first printing of the work was executed under his immediate direction. It is stated that “the completed volume only reached him when he was already unconscious—an hour before his death. Astronomers will recognise in this volume not only a work of exceeding usefulness to them, but also a fitting memorial coming at the close of the long professional life of its author.”
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Our Astronomical Column . Nature 20, 432–433 (1879). https://doi.org/10.1038/020432e0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/020432e0