4^6 THE MATHEMATICAL PRINCIPLES [BOOK III. The positions of the comet to these fixed stars were observed to be as follow : Friday, February 25, O.S. at 8ih. P. M. the distance of the comet in p from the star E wai less than T\ AE, and greater than }AE, and therefore nearly equal to T3SAE; and the angle AjoE was a little obtuse, but almost right. For from A, letting fall a perpendicular on pE, the distance of the comet from that perpendicular was j/»E. The same night, at 9