The Hawaiian gazette., 1870-04-27

TEE NExr TRAssrr or vssus.-The English Gov
observing the transit of the planet Venus over
the suns disc. and the subject deemed of snci-
ent Importance be mentioned BY Qneen Victoria in
her recent speech 70 tbs legislators Of the United
Kingdom. 1t has been decided detail four parties.
70 many different points, to watch the transit.
The Governments Of Prussia and Russia will each
send out more parties Of astronomical ohserv-
ers and it is probable that ocial assistance IN work
ing out the grand problem Of the earth's distance
from the viii be rendered by Turkey, portions
of that country present the very best positions that
could be selected for observation OF the important
phenomenon. Thus far, no moveme nt has been made
by the Government of the United States aid in the
work. The whole of the American Continent. North
and South will be below the suns horizon during the
transit. At the time Of the ingress the sun viii be
Terticle to the middle of the Eastern coast Of
Australia, and at the egress it will be noon
about half way between that point and the Island of
Madagascar. The observing stations must be within
90 degrees Of of these points, and the best posi-
tons the earths surface for measuring the paral
Tactic displacement of the planet. those situated
near line which viii lie in plane passing through
the apparent path of Venus the solar disc.
The nearest point on this line. to the United Statss
lies in the Western Aeutian Islands, the coast
of KnmsehstkA but this position viii probably &c
cupied BY party of Russian astronomers, and il is
open to the objection Of normally bad weather The
more accessible points, after this, the Med
iterranean, in the neighbOrhood of Alexandria and
Smyrna-whieh will probably be occupied By Euro
I. IL
most advantsgeousiy from the Southern Hemisphere,
but the most favorable places the other side Of
the equator precisely those of which the longi
tades and lattitudes not accurately known and
long series of previous observations would be
sary to give value to observations made there. For
these reasons it has been thought probable that the
United States Government viii decline to take part in
the grand system Of observations which will be made
in December 1874, and viii its scientific
ges for the ensuing transit of 1882 which viii be Wis
ibe from the Eastern States, the CaaAdas the West
Indies and Central America 1t not desirable that
this conclusion should be made. The United States
has taken front rank in astronomical investigation.
and especially in this department the subject of the
solar parAlax having been exhAustvely discussed by
member of our Naval observ story fOrce-PrOfessOr
Simon Newcomo. We can scarcely anoru 10 lie Idly
back and allow others to put the finishing stroke to
the work which he has handled in such q mastery
manner. The mean distance of the sun from the
earth has hitherto been estimated anywhere from
seventy-hve to ninety-siI millions of miles and the
coming transit will probably enable to gauge that
distance to the nearest thousand. When II is
bered that this distance really the unit Of
ment for all celestial Dimensions except those of the
moon-that the magnitudes and distances of all the
planetary bodies, and of the fixed stars deter
mined by reference it. the importance of the know
ledge is sufficiently apparent.
There should be unnecessary parsmony in the
matter few thousands of dollars will be well spent
in the undertaking. The United States Government
should send out awe equipped expedition to observe
the transit Of Venus, and should not content it.
self with choosing easilyreached station, where
perhaps half dozen amateur parties will be found on
the evenfu day. The greatest paucity Of effort will
be in the Southern Hemisphere, and thither party
should be sent long enough beforehand to choose a
proper station and get all ready for the epoch. This
would do towards the advancement Of science,
and for the credit of the nation, than has been
achieved by hundred times the expenditure, in a
hundred different directions in our past history
Chicago Tribune.