The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-03
THE SUCCESSES AT KERGUELEN.

REPORT OF LIEUTENANT COMMANDERS dEoRGE p.
RYAN, UNITED STATES NAVY, CHIEF OF THE
PARTY OF OBSERVERS or TRANSIT or VENUS
AT KRRGUELRS ISLANDS.
UNITED STATES SHIP MoNoNGAHELA /
CAPE Town, south Africa, Feb. !, lS75.)
sIR-It affords me great pleasure to report that
we were successful in Obtaining observations OF
tine transit OF Venus ut Kergueien, although the
chances we're decidedly against our doing So
on the morning Of the 9th the sun rose clear,
but the SKY soon became overcast and remained
80 throughout the forenoon, the sun only occa-
sonally shining through thin spots in the clouds
Hall an hour before the computed time OF first
contact every one was at his station, Dr. Kidder.
the naturalist OF the party, being &C the cnro
nometer. in the photograph house, and Lieutenant
Commander Train with me III the equatorial
house. where he had tie small equatorial, loaned
by the United States Naval Academy.
THE LABoRs or THE RvENTFUL DAY.
Just before the first intact the sun shone ont
brightly, enabling me to make a most excellent
observation much better than | had ever been
able 10 make in Washington with the artIficai
Venus. Ny eye piece was the double image
mcrometer,u with power OF 40. ! made six
measurements or chords and eleven or cusps
while Venus was on the SUMS first limb Before
the second contact the clouds thIckened, ana
wnen tne sun again shone out the bright strip be-
tween Venus and the suns edge was too wide TO
be called contact. made, therefore, eight meas
ures OF distances.
owing 10 clouds was unable TO obtain any oh
servations OF the third and fourth contacts, and
though saw Venus when about two-thirds OF the
last limb | could make no measurements the
ngnt being too feeble allow me TO separate the
Image.
THE PHOTOGRAPHIC ACHIEVEMENTS.
We made iorty-stx contact pictures. being en-
n. Holiness
holder. 10 obtain fifteen upon plate. la add
ton we got tnuty lull plate negatives, upon
twenty-slX OF winch measurements can be made.
Except during the contact exposures the sIiue
mad, IN cases. 10 be moved ny hand
The first exposure was made from twenty
i've 10 thirty seconcs after l had marked the
tTsL contact ana the last wnen Venus was about
halfway or the last llmb OF the sun. Lieutenant
commander Train observed the nrst contact
through the small equatorial, using power OF
about eighty; buI ne thought II not worth while
10 record the time, so much later It became a4-
parent IN his glass than In mine. During tue STAY
OF Jour months upon the island we mad seventy
i've days Of rain or snow ana but eleven days OF
hardly be called clear &C home II Is, therefore,
THINK, matter Tor congratulation that the Ker
guelen expedition dId not prove u failure.
WELCOME VISITORS.
The MononRahela arrived IA Royal Sound on the
evening or December p As was anxious TO stay
through the December lunation Captain Thorn
ton. AZ my request, kindly consented TO remain
until should oe READY. he station was broken
up on tue 10Th OF January. With TINS report
forward duplicates OF the observations mace dur
ing our residence upon The Island. The original
ana negative plates shall retain by me, per
INSTRUCTIONS, uEtii our arrival nome. am, very
respectfully, GEURGE Il. RYAN,
Lieutenant Commander United states Navy, Chief
OF Kerguelen party.
President Transit Of Venus Commission. WASH
Ington, ID. &.