The volume is divided into three sections. The first of these deals with the minor planets, including observations at Paris and Greenwich; circulars by F. Tietjen for the Berlin Jahrbuch, 1878-1879; the discovery and announcement of new minor planets, chiefly in the form of telegrams; and various elements and ephemerides of the asteroids. The second section deals with the intramercurial planet, Vulcan, with articles on its claimed appearance from 'The New York Times' and the 'Sacramento Agriculturist', and a refutation in the 'Madras Times'. There are a number of letters by J.C. Watson in support of the view that the planet exists, and T.E.V. Oppolzer's German investigations, with a star chart of the planet's supposed position. The volume includes notes on Mars and Saturn's satellites, many by Maria Mitchell. The last section is devoted to comets, particularly Swift's, Tempel's, Palisa's, Hartung's and Encke's, primarily in the form of telegrams, but also including observations and ephemerides. It includes A.S. Davis' postulation of his theory on the nature of comets' tails.