The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-01-30
THE AMERICAN SUCCESS IN JAPAN-FIvE HOURS
LABOR UNDER FACILITATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
NAGAsIKI Dec. r. 1874

THE AMERICAN SUCCESS IN JAPAN-FIvE HOURS
LABOR UNDER FACILITATING CIRCUMSTANCES.
NAGAsAKI Dec. IL, 1874.
The transit OF Venus Tor 1874 has become an
event OF the past. The night preceding the great
event was beautiful one, but the morning opened
cloudy, affordlng intervals, however, In the lower
stratum oil clouds which enabled the party to get
their preparatory photographs and at nine A. NJ.
all the necessary instrumental measurements had
been finished. Again the clouds thckened; there
was an upper stratum Of cirrus and clrro-srratus
that cut OF the heat rays OF the sun and lett
quiet clear atmosphere, but the neavy. cumulo.
stratus clouds that came slowly from the south.
vest ioreDoded rain. Just before the first con.
tact the lower clouds partially broke and allowed
the formation oil good image Of the SUMS disk
until about ten or fifteen seconds before the actual
contact, when they tEickened and remained so
for about Twenty-Five seconds. When the vapors
again rolled away the limp OF the planet was seen
advanced about ten seconds on the disk OF the
TINS the decisive moment at which the nrst ex.
terna. contact TOOK place gould not be noted
by the observers. When Venus western heml-
sphere had just 0een projected on the solar
uisk, the heavens cleared, aud the work Of meas.
urenenu OF the apparent distance between the
Planets cusps was commenced. Inc critical in
slant OF the second contact was clearly ana accu-
Iateiy noted 1t being observable through tie haZy
atmosphere. No ligameDt, band or black drop
was observable, yet u slight unsteadiness pre-
vailed. such as observers continually experience
IN ge0detic work over long lines, and which any
weather. Tncn followed measures OF the separa.
ton oil the limos or the planet and tne sun then
the measures Tor the diameter OF Venus.
Alter the taxing OF $50 mcrometer readings In
these various operations he clouds rhlckene0 and
prevented iurtner operations Tor some time Dur.
ing the comparatively bright period the photo
graphic operations were carried on as rapidly as
practicable; IN act AT the rate OF working not
less tnan 400 could have been run OH. All these
exposures were no'ed b oy tine electric metaod on
meridian there was another slght break In the
s allen clouds, and the lin u.s. both Of the and
OF Venus, were observed IN the coast survey
transit sent out tor these measures. The transit
OF both uiDs OF the sun over fifteen threads OF the
Venus over sixteen threads. With another transit
instrument the difference OF decilnatiOn between
the suns upper limb and the limbs OF Venus was
From this time until ten minutes before two
O'Clock other observations were made Tor the de-
termination Of the diameter Of the planet, aiLer
wnicn period The luminary became totally OBJ
scured and continued so for nearly an hour.
Toward three O'Clock slight break took place in
the intervening gloom, and with vlclssltudes OF
light and darkness the planet was observed as
she advanced toward the suns western limb.
lew moments before he third contact several
mlcrumetrlc measurements OF tine distance be-
tween the limos were made. NO llgament or blur
was visible but the epoch OF this contact could
no. be noted back masses OF vapOr having rolled
bet ween. Every coored glass was dispensed with
but the critical Junction was, nevertheless, not
discernlble. Five seconds after It's occurrence a
faint glimpse was caught Oh the planets position;
the micrOmcter "as again brought into rcquIsl-
ton, aud lew more measul ements OF The line
Joining the cusps were obtained with a darkenIng
SKY and threatening rain. Not long alterward
the ram can down, and the laoors oil the 90.
servers were at an end.
IMPORTANCE or THE OBSERVATIONS AT JAPAN.
The results oil The days WORK may thus be epit-
OmlZed The second contact was well observed;
the first and third were doubtful. There were
Obtained $50 mIcrometer reaulngs Tor the DIS
tances apart OF the SUMS cusps, separation Of the
planets limbs from those OF toe sun aud
Oi the diameter OF the planet, which
latter must throw much light on the
question OF irradlatl0n. Ihirty.One transits OF
both nmbs OF Venus and the sun at the meridian,
eighteen mlcrometer differences OF declnation on
the meridian, and sixty good photographs with
sharp outlines ana Venus well SHOWN, were like
wise Ell ana duiy registered. There Is no doubt
that good results can be ootdined from these
OBSERVATIONS, anu IL Ill be more than Is expected,
II all OtDer partcs are equally successful. There
was no period O1 the day alter zen A. NJ, when the
SKY was coudiess; and the Chief OF the party at
tributes MS exec lent micrometric measures 10 the
very existence o tue upper stratum oil lignt Clouds
when gave a .alrly steady atmosphere. During
the evening the clouds separated Tor ABOUT forty
minutes, during which excellent observations Tor
time were OBTAINED TO check the errors OF the
chronometers. ID.