Knoxville journal. [volume] (Knoxville, Iowa) 1874-1986, 1874-06-18
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

THE 1hANSll OE LNUSs
THE transit of Venus across the disc OF
the sun, which will take place Dec. s,
1874, is regarded by the scientific world
as the most important astronomical event
of the century.
This article is not designed to instruct
the learned in such matters, or to in any
wav afford them the slightest information,
but it is written for that infinitely larger
class of readers who have but q moment
to take from the severer occupations of
life to gain knowledge Of those transac-
tions which, while advancing science and
making the men of theory and magma
ton more god-like, have direct tendency
to ameliorate the conditions of people and
To bless mankind. The main thing, that
is to say, the pecuniarv consideration
the result that will PAYS bound up in
the idea that the observations of this tran
sit of Venus will enable the mathemati-
clans of the spheres to determine more &C
curately than ever before the suns dis
lance from the earth.
Once more we say this paper is not fer
the Academy OF Sciences" therefore, in
a non-protessiona, way, we must go on
and assert that it stands TO reason that an
error, however small, in the solution of
problems on which the determination of
the SUMS distance depends would not only
result in adding or Withdrawing hundreds
of millions of cubic miles from the SUMS
volume and many multiples of the earth's
mass from his weight, but all human con-
ceptions of the size of solar spots, the al
titude of the brilliantly-colored promi-
nences, the velocity of solar currents and
destroying cyclones would all be proper
tionately erroneous. Now, while an APP
plication of one, if not the most effective,
of the methods known to astronomers for
solution of this gigantic problem is about
to be made, it must be remembered that
it is to be done by the inhabitants of an
while it is rotating on its axis, and
sweeping on in its orbit with fearful
velocity But such are the wonderful
means at the command of the innabit-
ants of the earth that it is confidently
believed the transit will be accurately de-
fined, and that Venus, the most brilliant
of all the planets, the planet whose song
of love and praise runs through years
nearly equal to our own, will hereafter be
better understood.
The first observation of transit of
Venus across the suns disc was made by
young, ardent, amateur astronomer of
England, by the name of jeremiah Hor-
rox. This was Nov. "a, 1889 The next
was June 5, 1861, but its results were not
particularly beneficial, owing principally
to the fact that the observations at the
various points did not coincide. Under
the reign of George Ill the most extern
sive preparations were made for the OBJ
servation of the transit of June 2, 1869.
The King, at his own expense, dispatched
well-equipped expedition to Tahiti,
under the command of Capt. James
Cook, and the Continental powers also
sent out similar expeditions.
Venus and Mercury are inferior plan
cts, and when they are at inferior con-
functions sometimes, though rarely, pass
between the sun and earth, and when
they do they are seen as dark spot
crossing the suns disc. This very rare
phenomenon the astronomers call a
transit.
The transit of Venus takes place al
ternately at intervals Of eight and one
hundred and five and half years. The
last ones were in the years 1851 and 1853,
and Dec. 6, 1882. Taking place only
twice in century, it is by no means an
everyday affair.
To Mr.. Frederick A. Sawyer, in the
Senate, and Mr. James A. Garfield, in the
House, the people of the country are large
ly indebted for those necessary appropria-
lions which have enabled the Government
to take the requisite steps for sending out
In conjunction with all civilized govern
ments corps of practical and scientific
men to make observations. AS now ar
ranged the parties stand organized as
follows:
There will be in all eight parties-three in
the Northern Hemisphere and five in the
Bouthern-and for the reason that there are
1--WE chances in eight in the South for favora-
bic work, and not for lack Of good stations.
The assignments for the various stations
are as follows:
viadivostock station, in Siberia, has for its
chief astronomer Prof. Hall, OF the Naval
observatory, with Mr. o. b. Wheeler, OF the
lake survey, as assistant chief photographer,
Mr. Clark, with Mr.. Tappan and MIR. Rock
well as assistants
Prof. Hardness, of the Naval Observatory,
with Mr.. L. Waldo, of Columbia College, as
assistant; Mr.. Moran, chief photographer,
with Messrs. Churchill and Devereaux as as
sistants.
kerguelen station will be occupied by
Lieut.. CONS. Ryan and Train as astron-
omers, and Messrs. Holmes, Dryer and Stan
ley as photographers.
New Zealand station has for its chief astron-
omer Prof G. III. f. Peters, of Hamilton Col
lege, N. Y, and Lieut.. Bass, United States
engineers, as assistant; chief photographer,
Mr. Phillippi, assisted by Mr.. Russell.
Peking station has for its chief astronomer
Prof. j. Watson, of Ann Arbor; assistant not
yet selected; chief photographer, Mr.. Ranger,
assisted by Mr.. Watson and MIR. Conrad
Crozet station Is assigned to Capt. Raymond,
OF the United States engineers, with Lieut..
Iillman as assistant: chief photographer, Mr..
Dwell; assistant not selected.
Nagasaki station will be under the care OF
Prof. G Davidson, Of the coast survey, and
nat. Pittman as assistant; chief photographer,
MI: Sesbert assisted by 81. Ellerton Lodge
and Mr.. Williams.