The Wheeling daily intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1865-1903, 1874-12-11
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Successful Observations OF the Tran
sit of Venus.

Successful Observations OF the Tran.
sit of Venus.
Our dispatches this morning announce
number OF successful observations OF
the "transit OF Venus" at various points
throughout the world, on the 9Th inst, by
the different expeditions Of astronomers
sent out by our own and other govern
ments. At some points a large number
Of successful photographs were taken,
something that has now been accom-.
plished for the first time as regards this
planet, the last transit Of Venus having
occurred in 1869. The Importance Of
these observations consists in tho fact
that they are to become the basis Of q
revised. calculation as 10 the exact dis
tsnce Of the Sun from the earth. Once
the exact distance is ascertained 1.-The dis
lance Of all the other planets can be &C.
curately ascertained by using the earth
as basis. Venus Is used as q basis
for determining our distance from the
Sun because she is the nearest planet to
us. The exact relation OF the Sun 10 the
whole planetary system Is the ground.
work Of all astronomical calculations
calculations that become matters Of great
moment in the navigation of-lhe seas.
Astronomy has long been famous for the
cxactness Of It's predictions as regards
eClipses and other celestial phenomena
The occurrence oil eclipSes can be fore.
told to moment for an indefinite period
in advance of the event. And yet nautl-
cal astronomers, those, we mean, whose
speciality 1t is 10 compute the movements
aud positions Of the heavenly bodies for
the regulation OF chronometers, have long
been desirous TO secure more accurate
knowledge In regard 10 the exact distance
0t the Sun from tho earth and the other
planets. NsVigstors in making their
perilous voyages through pathleas waste
o! waters have no sure guides save their
Chronometers and the. movements and
positions OF the Sun, Moon and stars. 1t
Is in the highest degree essential therefore
for their safety that the chances for error
in the nautical almanacs should be re-
duced to the lowest possible minimum.
TO secure accuracy is the reason that such
number of costly expeditions were sent
out 10 various parts Of the earth to observe
the Transit Of Venus that occurred Tues.
day night last.
It Is generally understood that the dis
tauce from the earth to the SUMS 05 ,000,.
900 of miles. This is the way all of US
have been taught at school. For general
purposes it is accurate enough to call the
distance 95.0O0,00O Of miles. And yet for
many years past astronomers have dilIar.
I'd in opinion as 10 the exact distance.
Within comparatively recent period va.
tiOus methods have been resortCd to for
testing, revising and correcting this accep.
ted standard Of 0j,000,000 Of miles.
Among these methods were calculations
rs 10 the effects oI the suns attraction on
tue moon, and of the relative weight Of
the sun and the earth, and the consequent
distance that ought TO separate them in
order that the centrifugal motion OF the
earth in its orbit shall precisely balance
the attraction Of the sun. The result was
simply 10 increase the feeling OF uncer-
tsinty IS to the real distance and to make
the various governments of the civilized
world more desirous than ever OF svsiing
themselves Of the late transit OF Venus, in
order to secure true test.
The dispatches this morning do not re.
port all the observations that were made.
Besides those reported there were expedi.
tions 10 tho Islands Of the Southern
Ocean, to New Zealand, toiAustralia, and
to NorthessternlAsia. One object of this
variety OF expeditions. was to place as
nearly as possible the whole diane
ter Of the earth between two sets
OF observers, in order to secure the
largest base line on which TO erect angu-
lar measurements. The diameter of even
the whole earth Is not much Of a base
wherewith 10 measure 100000 OF miles,
especially when the angle to be marked IS
less than one part OF scale infnitessimsl,
ly divided into millions OF parts. To be
able to mark an angle at all on such
scale shows the wonderiul-the miracu-
lOus nicely Of astronomical calculations.
1t is said that an error Of the sixteenth
part OF minute would become an error Of
million of miles In computing the dis
tauce 10 the sun. And yet so elaborate
have been the preparations for these OBJ
servations-so delicate are the instruments
-snd so painstaking and conscientious
will be the comparison Of notes before the
result Is announced, that the whole scien.
tifc world will accept 1t without mo-
ments hesitation as mathematically
correct. -