The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-04-03
heaven. became SO much overcast that nothing

heavens became so mucn OveTcabG tuAb MVtohmB
more could be done.
OBSTACLES TO THE LATITUDE WORK.
In reference TO the latitude observations u NAV
be remarked that employed only the new caps
OF Good hope and Melbourne catalogues, ami cont
seauentiy the stars composing my pairs vera
sometimes 80 far apart shat they involved good
deal OF waiting. Still II was i0und practicabie ~
get time stars between the stars used lor
latitude. Ny expectation was TO have got hltS
pairs OF observations FOR latitude ny the ead
OF OCTOBER, and after that TO have obserfea
for time only bus in this was disap-
pointed In the records OF the time observations
the azlmItn stars are sometimes designated by <
number instead or by name. In SUCH cases the
numbers refer To the list OF southern cirGumGOla
stars, furnished by the Melbourne Observatory
ana printed In No. 1876 OF the AStronoht-sahs
Ndcllrfchten. Between the date or my returI
from Melbourne and the day OF the transit there
was not single clear night on November 20
IL cleared up at sunset, and | went 10 the
station, expecting TO make night or II. began
with latitude Stars because my working list Of
them ran out early In the evening; bur- after gett
ting only two pairs, the sky became overcast and
nothing could be done. Nor were the days
any better than the nights. On November ~ 4
finished my apparatus Tor taking the small pcf
lures during the interval between the hrst ana
second and again between the third and fourtb
contacts, and, although watched anxlousy ios
a gieam OF sunshine to test 1t, the opportunity
never came, and the first pictures taken Win -
were those the day OF the transit.
INSTRUMENTAL ADJUSTMENTS UNDER DIFFICULTIES,
II viii be observed that in the records when
sent home there are no determinations OF the
level OF the axis OF the Photographic telescope
nor OF the distance between the objective and thg
sensitive plate, prior 10 December 3 Tie reaso9
for TINS is that wnen went TO Melbourne did not
consider the aZimuth as finally adjusted ana Il
dld not seem worth while TO make any records Of
level or distance until that was done. When
returned TO Hobart Town | waived in vain
an opportunity TO perfect the azlmutn,
nor could | get any pictures OF the sun; conse-
Quently the apparatus not used for anything
Whatever but dummy practice, ana no special ~
tenton was paid TO it till the afternoon anu eyen~
Ing OF December S, when determined the level Of
the axis measured the distance between Che co.
ective and sensitive plate and tested ana lounH
correct all the other adjustments, except the
azlmuth. on the morning OF December lie
heavens were black and lowering About SIX a.
Nj. there was a heavy shower, but by halI-pass
eight there were signs oil better weather. Wllca,
however, proved delusive. At ten O'Clock,
although the sky was hopelessy overcast. the
whole party was At the stanton and ready Tor
| WORK.
At II 40 A. NJ, the predicted time OF first con-
| about twelve O'Clock the clouds thinned Tor lew
moments sufficiently TO snow Venus hall way on
/ 10 mis- face An attempt was made 10 photograph
| IL, but without success. Then the sun again
1 yelled till 1890 T.. NJ, when II was seen tor an
| instant with toe planet ruy upon It's disk After
| teat there was heavy rain for nearly an L0ur aud
dense clouds I'LL hali-past two, when suddenly az
me ssa sun N and AZ 81 s7m 2os. P. NJ me irss
picture was taken. Although the SKY was never
I Tree from clouds, yet 10 remained clear IA
the nelQhbOrhood OF the sun I'LL ~. lihi- 4. III,
and during that time forty-One pictures were
taken, or which thlrty-nlne were excellent and
[sonLy spoiled oy the CLOUDS For me re-
mainder OF the transit there were only moMentAry
flashes OF sunshine. bur by utlhZlng every one or
them, between 50. 32m. AIS and 81. 53m. 24s L. a..
seventy-iour small pictures were obtained. Dur
lng the transit my party were assisted ~ ~.
Edward kerSnner Lieutenant George r. wilkins
| ana Assistant Engineer II. \. stevenson,
all OF the United States steamer Swat2ra, aQu also
by Major g. J. Mcmahon, OF the English Royal AT
tElery, VINO Is an expert amateur pnotOgral her.
without the KIND cooperation OF these gentlemen
IL wound not have been possible TO secure 50 many
pictures IN so snort q time
PARTIAL VICTORY AT THE EQUATORIAL.
EaiIau nOur before the third contact went to
the equatorial house for the purpose OF naklne
Inicrome trica measures but Ut ia r. NJ, Us.
4 | was apont TO commence, large cloud cane up
ana hld the sun. It ia not pass over TIL IN. In
sos. This nearly i've minutes before tue pre-
olcted time Vi tnlr0 contact, but The thread or
ngnt between Venus and the suns limb seelnedstO
me narrow That, II there was any truth IN The
irradatlon theory OF the black drop, ~ might ureGE
at anT instant. Under these circumstances dare
not begin making Hlicromet rcal measures iOr iear
OF losing the contact AT 3h. 35nl. 4s. tue3rIy)
! the again oDscured aud when the Cl0uG
passed over saw that the thread OF light DetW cen
| Venus ana the suns limb just oroGen, the
/ cusps being very snarp and well denned. AT lgat
ter. Bond son, No. 2S9.l give tnls obsetsa~
ton Tor what ~ - worth, but cannot say now
accurate II H. because did not actually tue
thread OF Mgnt break Alter the transit the chr0-
nometer was compared WITH the clocE, a. Iol-
loWs<