The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1875-02-27
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

JAPANESE OBSERVATIONS OF THE PHENOMENON.
Lieutenant Murray S. Day, United States Navy,
low engaged in photographic duty for the Japa-
nese government, made successful observations
OF the transit in the palace grounds OF the Mikado,
Tokei UeddO) at the request or tho imperial house
hold. he was assisted in these by his associate,
Mr. Avrais IKunoski, which latter gentleman. IN
signing his report, adds his title. 'Kaitakushi
Gotochishi."
Two sets Of independent observations were
made at their station in the palace grounds, lati
tude IS deg. 40 min. AZ sec. north, longitude lSe
deg. Al min. % sec. east from Greenwich. Lieu.
tenant Days were taken with portable asrro
nomical transit instrument twurdeman. No. s5).
and his time noted with q sidereal chronometer
sNegus, New YORK, No. 1,549). He reports the nrst
external contact TO nave taken place At Oh. Som.
SIS. the first internal contact at III. 23m. 1885,;
the second internal at lin. 14m $685., and the
Qua external, or last contact, at lin. Ann. O5s
every GOOD y the time was noted for the second
at the breaking OF the ltgament and for the third
at the making OF the llgament
The observations OF the Japanese assistant, Mr..
Ikunoskl, were taken With tennch theodolite
Wurdeman. No. 1914. The. time was noted by 9
mean time chronometer tNegus, No. l.55o). the
first internal contact was not noted; the second
was at 2h. 1om ss; the third at eh. ON. aos, and
There is no real discrepancy here in the time,
since Lieutenant Days was noted by q sideresi
chronometer. Tne SKY was very clear for these
observers. 1t Is worth our note that have
thus a good Japanese astronomical observation
OF some points IN the transit.
SUCCESS AT RODRIGUEZ ISLANDS.
The English party here are reported 10 have
had complete success. Both tngress and egreSs
were well observed. Janssen's revolving appara.
tus worked well. Nine Jansen plates were
cured each containing sixty small photographs,
taken at intervals OF second. Ftfty-elghr ordt.
nary plates were also made.
AS regards the British expeditions 1t Is satisfao.
tory 10 learn that AS they have obtained good
observations OF the ingress at the sandwich
Islands and at Rodriguez, ana OF the egress IN
N nav no 4 mn "a
OF two pairs or OBSERVATIONS - comparison by
DelisleS method. These are valuable parts oil tho
worlds work on this great phenomenon.
RETURN OF PROFESSOR wATSON's PARTY.
daily expected IN Washington, bringing the ON.
cial reports OF the Pekin party.
This early return OF the parry 10 In consequence
OF their having succeeded IN getting down from
OF the Russell Company's vessels, reaching
Shanghai on December 30 and being brought over
thence TO Yokohama by the United states shin
Monocacy under orders OF Admiral Pennock.
United states Navy. Professor Watson thui
avoided the long land journey which he would
have mad to the Yangts River.
The Alaska, from Yokohama, reached San Fran
cisco on the 10th inst. and doubtless brought al
but watson. who goes to the East.
While the party were detained at Chefoo they
had had clear sky
me discrepancies reported by our observers be-
tween the observed times or the contact and
those computed by the English astronomers were
w. HUI. OF Nyack Turnpike, N. Y. Mr.. HUI pro-
pared the four beautiful charts OF Part 2 OF the
American Transit Commission, ana predicted dis.
crepancies In the times given by English
COUSINS. When all the results are reduced-say
within twelve to eighteen months-we Will see
who wins.