XII. Observations of a comet, made with a view to investigate its magnitude and the nature of its illumination. To which is added, an account of a new irregularity lately perceived in the apparent figure of the planet Saturn

Abstract

The comet which we have lately observed, was pointed out to me by Mr. Pigott, who discovered it at Bath the 28th of September, and the first time I had an opportunity of examin­ing it was the 4th of October, when its brightness to the naked eye gave me great hopes to find it of a different construction from many I have seen before, in which no solid body could be discovered with any of my telescopes. In the following observations, my attention has been di­rected to such phenomena only, as were likely to give us some information relating to the physical condition of the comet, it will therefore not be expected that I should give an account of its motion, which I was well assured would be most accurately ascertained at the Royal Observatory at Greenwich.