The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-14
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.
SUCCESSFUL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DEsCRu
,TIoN By DIR. @. II. r. PETERS.
From the Utica Herald Feb l2l

SUCCESSFUL OBSERVATION-DISCLOSURES DESCRIP-
,TIoN BIZ DIR. g. H. r. PETERS.
From the Utica Herald, Feb. III
QUEENSTOWN OTA0O, N. T., Dec. IL, 1874.
Hon. o. y. wLLIAMs:-
Ny DEAR SIR-The monthly mali leaves tonight
for San Francisco, and cannot let It 90 without
writing to you al few words announcing our almost
complete In observing the transit Of Venus
the day before yesterday. 1t Is relief after al
most years. anxiety, and / cannot yet quite
fully realize our good fortune. At three minutes
past one o'clock, according to computation,
first contact had to occur. In the morn.
Ing kilograms dropped in from all parts
Of the island tthe telegraph wires and
full apparatus, by disposition Of the New
Zealand government, being led into our transit
house,, "rain" here, "cloudsn there clouds all
over New Zealand, .clouds also at Queenstown.
Major Palmer, chief Of the English party, had
slablished himself at Burnham, some miles from
Christburgh, with five branch STATIONS. Lieuten.
a. eleven O'Clock teegraphed IAN overcast.
What hope have YOU'RE answered:-.Uvercast
But the CLOUDS
and other kilograms came-"Raining at Dun 0in, y
"Ra'ning at Bun Harbor." &c.
In the meantime we examined our instruments
last time. saw that the clOckworks OF heliOstat
for Photographic lens, and OF equatorial, ran well
bered from to 20o) IN their right order, looked
after the water supply 1--WE had little aaueducs
se SO rs 40 nave N h IRON
photographers building), tried the baths, &c.
Tine c0rOn0meters were distributed, and arr ranged
equatorial house. the time drew nearer and
nearer but stul the clouds were hiding the sun.
must confess got q little nervous, shut myself
with the equatorial two minutes yet until BEGIN
ntng-and the sun suddenly has gained the VIC
tory 1t shines out brightly. and remains 80 for
duty silently, from the policeman on watch out
SIDE the gate OF the enclosure to the rather TAXA
M my ss % 80
every clasp convincing me Of one picture more
In the wallcf the photoRraphers' house we had
arranged speaking trumpet; every now ana
then there came call up, down, east westl"
rms was to the assistant on watch at the mirror
tORrapher's telescope, which has length OF forty
feet me cockwork driving That mirror some
times needed little Observation-Disclosures those
calls. In my enclosure l continue to measure dis.
tances OF Venus and SUMS limb. Then, after the
vantage OF the occasion Tor measuring with the
dOuble.image micrometer the apparent diameter
Of Venus, thus determining (fOr the first time, as
believe, since the creation of the world the real
size Of Venus with the accuracy OF ABOUT the
three-hundredth part OF its value. Atabout three
business. We came out OF our recesses, concratu.
lated each other and had some minutes rest AS
the sun looks through between the clouds another
system was now organized. Instead OF at regular
Intervals now photograph was taken whenever
the sun was shining through gap, and may well
say, OuT arrangements WtEc 80 complete, our
machinery working 80 well, that the sun could not
send q ray through narrow gap during
lew seconds without being Immediately caught
and pictured. Thus we succeeded, as ind by
thorough examination yesterday afternoon, in
getting in all 239 pictures. The last one OF these
was taken only sixteen minutes before egress.
Then a heavy cloud put itself oostlnateiy In the
way, ana did not recede till exactly thirty three
seconds after the last tact, according to the
computed time. Venus was seen no more
called together the assistants to give three hearty
CHEERS and to dip three times our glorious nag.
At about quarter Oh SIX O'Clock 1t Was all ended.
At ha!Tpast seven we had appointed with the
other stations upon the island for Geographic
chat Congratulations dropped In over the wires
from all SIDES but our JOY was marred by the reports
from colleagues At the other stations. We alone
in New Zealand were favored ny the heavens. 1t
seems that at Auckland the first contacts were
also observed, but that Major Palmer (whO,
besides ourselves, alone mad Photographic
apparatus, as lar AS l know dld not succeed IS
very much to be regretted.
Thus, my dear sur. l have given you full
exposition OF our proceedings on the ever.
memorable day OF the 9th OF December. ! am
glad that our efforts have not been In vain, and
am sure that you and all friends at Clinton aud
Hamilton College VIII rejoice with me.
i must close now. but snail write to Clinton
again from Melbourne, where shall 90 about the
end OF this or tae beginning of next month. Fare
well, then, with my best regards Yours, very
truly, o. H. F. PETERS.