The Donaldsonville chief. [volume] (Donaldsonville, La.) 1871-current, 1874-06-27
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

Results to be Obtained-A Popular
Review of the Whole subject.
From the Washington Chronicle, May 2O.1
The transit of Venus across the disc OF
the sun, which will take place December Q,
1874, is regarded by the scientific world as
the most important astronomical event Vi
the century.
This article is not designed to instruct
the learned in such matters. or to in any
way afford them the slightest information,
but it is written for that infinitely larger
class of readers who have but moment 10
take from the severer occupations OF Ire
to gain knowledge of those TRANSACTIONS
which, while advancing science and max
ing the men of theory and Imagination
more god-Iike have direct tendency 10
ameiiorate the conditions of people and TO
bless mankind. The main thing, that is
tn say. the pecuniary consideration-the
result that will paY-is bound up in the
idea that the observations of this transit OF
Venus will enable the mathematician OF
the spheres to determine more accurately
than ever before
THE SUMS DISTANCE FROM THE EARTH.
Once mole we say this paper is not for
the Academy of Science;;" therefore, In
a non-professional way, we must go on
and assert that it stands to reason that an
problems on which the determination Of
the suns distance depends would not only
result in adding or withdrawing hundreds
of millions of cubic miles from the suns
volume and many multiples of the earth's
mass from his weight, but all human con-
ceptions of the size of solar spots, the
altitude of the brilliantly-colored prom
inences, the velocity of solar currents
and destroying cyclones would all be pro-
portionately erroneous. Now, while an ap-
pIication of one, If not the most effective,
of the methods known to astronomers for a
solution of this gigantic problem is about
to be made, ft must be remembered that 1t
is to be done by the inhabitants OF an in
finitesimal spot i'm the universe, and 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 inhabitants of the earth that it Is
confidently believed the transit will be ac-
clrately defined, 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 SUMS disc
was made by young, ardent, amateur
astronomer of England, by the name OF
Jeremiah Horrox. This was November
"a, 1879. The next was June 5, 1851, but
its results were not particularly beneficial,
owing principally to the fact that the OBJ
,servations at the various points did not
coincide. Under the reign OF George Ill,
the most extensive preparations We're made
for the observation of the transit of June
2, 1869. The King at his own expense dis
patched well-equipped expedition to
Tahiti, under the command of Captain
James Cook. and the Continental Powers
also sent out similar expeditions.
WHEN TRANsITS TAKE PLACE.
Venus and Mercury are inferior planets,
and when they are at inferior conjunctiOns
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 as
T0nomers call a transit.
The transit of Venus takes place alter
nately at intervals of eight and one hun
dred and five and a half years. The last
ones were in the years 1851 and 1863, and
the next will take place December s. 1874,
and December 6, 1882. Taking place only
twice in century, it is by no means an
everyday affair.
WHAT THE UNITED STATES HAS DONE.
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-
tons 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 fol-
lows:
There will be in all eight parties-three
in the Northern Hemisphere and five in
the Southern-and for the reason that
there are five chances in eight in the South
for favorable work, and not for lack of
good stations.
The assignments for the various stations
are as follows:
Viadivostoek station, in Siberia, has for
its chief astronomer Professor Hall, of the
Naval Observatory, with Mr.. O. B. Wheel
err, of the Lake Survey, as assistant; chief
photographer. Mr.. Clark, with Mr.. Tap
pan and Mr.. Rockwell as assistants.
Hobart Town station will be occupied
by Professor Hardness, of the Naval OBJ
servatory, with Mr.. L. Waldo, of Column
bian College, as assistant; Mr.. Moran,
chief photographer, with Messrs. Church.
i'll and Devereaux as assistants.
Kergnelen station viii be occupied by
htNNAt3 titA ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS AAYttfi anu 1Tdil
as astronomers, and Messrs. Holmes,
Dryer. and Stanley as plot gfaphers.
New Zealand station has for its chief
astronomer Professor G. II. f. Peters, of
HamilH1n College, N. Z ), and Lieutenant
Bass. United States engineers, as assistant;
chief photographer, Mr.. Phillippi, assist
ed by Mr.. Russell
Peking station has for its chiet astrono-
mer Professor j. Watson, of Ann Arbor,
assistant not yet selected; chief photo
gTapher, Mr.. Ranger, assisted BY Mr.. Wat
son and Mr.. Conrad.
Crozet station is assigned to Captain
Raymond, of the United States engineers,
with Lieutenant Tillman as assistant !;
chief photographer. Mr.. Dwell; assist
ant not selected.
Nagasaki station will be under the care
of Professor G. Davidson, of the Coast
Survey, and Mr.. Pittman as assistant !;
chief photographer, Mr.. Seibert, assisted
by Fl. Ellerton Lodge and Mr.. Williams.
Chatham Island station. at the extreme
east, win be occupied by Mr.. e. Smith, as
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