The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-05-07

. OxVxA AA114VxA4AA<1 - ~ LIN ~ 49, =
beer for weeks. The peripatesic scientist who per-
forms big telescope In the streets, charging ten
cents squint. made also large profits. and everybody
who owned could borrow an opera glass was proud
Professor Peck, - was limited. aimed The big
Columbia College telescope at the sun from the
tage ground OF the observatory on the college green
and curious students ana grave professors ~
hand, . large canvas screen being arranged
In such way that reflection OF the
81 was sde. from
came on, not to see tho students, but 10 view The
transi. Two or three OF them were late, and were
very much disappointed when they were told that the
Professor would by means 'repeat the experiment"
Mr. Rutherford. Of second avenue, has a glass Of
observation, and assisted by Professor Ingersol, Of
Columbia College, took number al valuable photo
the only Important scientific basis OF CALCULATION that
was obtained IN tho city.
WATCHING THE CROSSING PLANET AT PROFESS
son DRApERs OBSERVATORY, HASTINGS, ON
THE HUDSON.
In anticipation OF Mercury's transit the SUMS
disc several astronomers and scientists met
on Sunday last At tho observatory OF PROBES
sor Henry Draper, Hastings, on the Hudson Besides
this gentleman there were present Professor George
f. Barker. OF the University OF Pennsylvania; Pro-
lessor j. w. Draper OF tho New York University;
Professor f. S. Holden. OF tho Naval Observatory,
Washington, D. c.. and Dr. Daniel Draper, director Of
the Meteorological Observatory Central Park. Sunday
night spcnt in making sots Of obse.va-
OF the planets and In getting all tho IN
struments into a slate Of perfect working order.
Yesterday morning the party, together with several
other gentlemen, on watch at the obser vatory
by eight O'Clock, and made tho hnal adjustments of
the apparatus about to DO used.
YHE DRAPER OBSERVATORY.
The observatory Itself is composed Of two domes
closing circular spaces in which the great telescopes
are mounted. Between tho domes there IS a photo
graphic operating room, TO the north and con-
tiguous are workshop well supplied with
mechanics tools and beautifully fitted up
hot air engine OF two horse power, that drives tho
lathe upon which Professor Draper turned all the
shafts and pinions, and cut tho complicated wheel
work used in mounting his great telescope On the
west slde Of the larger dome, which is twenty-five
feet In diameter, Is transit room with
instruments that are principally used in observing
the SUMS passage across the meridian In tho larger
dome mounted the unsurpassed lwenty-oIght inch
reflector which look Pro- cssor Draper eighteen
to construct and ht up This instrument, with It's
delcalcly adj listed cockw0rk, SO arranged 10
allow the glass to noseiessly follow the heavenly
bodies in their course. Is said to be far
superior 70 the great telescope OF Lord Rosse.
whchwas at time considered to be tho best in
the world Next 10 II in point OF meria is the nstru
ment used In the Naval observatory ~ Washington,
d. Z. Close along tho surface OF tho tube Of this i'm.
telescope two others OF less power mounted
In directions parallel TO tne axis OF the tubC One OF
these instruments is u twelve inch reflector, tho
work Of Mr. Avian Clark, and the other 10 val liable
six-inch achromatic reflector. Tho two last named
Rassos principally used yesterday, Tor the rea-
son that tho employ mont Of very great telescope
power would give 10 tho planet observed too much
In the smaller domo there is very iue Gitecn-
inch Ncwtonian reflector, which was mostly used by
so Dsspss ana
ments. In q corner Of the room adjoining tho larger
dome chronograph Is fitted up. The Office OF tins
instrument. aidod by q chronometer having PAIR
OF electric wires 70 connect 1t with glass pen, Is TO
enable the observer to measure tho time OF any o0
servation down TO tho hundredth part OF second.
camera ten inches square fastened to tho face
Of the tube OF the great reflector, aud bad
taneous shutter whereby tho exposure OF the
sensatized glass the light regulated, and in
this way tho position OF the planet photographed
from time TO time as 1t made It's course across the
Photographic apparatus arranged that exposure Of
IL 009 of second in duration could be obtained.
THE WEATHER CONDITIONS.
The weather was. upon tho WHOLE favorable for the
important work on hand; the fore part Of the
day was eoas, and the latter par. alternately
apparently upd,sturbed and beautiful was.
In tho forenoon, charged with an amount
difficult 10 got correct observations the time
planets first contact win the suns limb.
Tho predicted timo Tor the nrsi contact was accor
ding to Washington moab time:-
!. 10h 5n. SO sec.
ii. lob. ON. sec.
The disrance between the 1rst and second times OF
contact above given, shows the approximately cal
OF us nrst contact with tho sun until that
when its outer limb comes opposite that OF
oesupsS Mercury aSslns nc on Time ns
suns disk, a distance equal to his own apparent
diameter Al the instant OF nrst contact the planet
was ..3oiling;" that y, jumping about The suns
surface Tor distance about equal TO three times his
own diameter and therefore the exact time OF first
contact could not be accurately ascertainco. II
may DO confidently stated, however. that the
between the estimated and the real time OF 1rst
contact does not exceed halt minute II rs also
and the real time OF contact was not
arrange tho heuros obtained tho exact
time OF contact could not DO given During the OBJ
OF the telescope and shown u reddish colored
glass, with Tho planet not larger in appearance
s so 10 take the sharpe. Vision to dc.
fine its diameter. A moments Inspection OF this I'M
steady little slobule showed al once how difficult II
WINS 10 got the instant Of his first tact the
SUM- on account OF tho vbratory motion impaired 10
hun through the unhvorable condition OF tho al
PHASES OF THE PHENOMENON
Let the circular part Of u twelve-nch clock face
represent the sun, .nen very small pea on us sur
image OF Mercury did yesterday TO the suns disk. Foi
loving this illustration good idea may DO OBJ
suppose that he commenced TO interposc himself
tween aud tho great uminary NJ spot which
would b; properly indicated as NALL past Tour O'Clock
ON tho clock DIAL From this POINT tho
course OF Mercury upward, in a slightly
curvitincar direction, toward eight O'Clock,
Letween which and haIi-past eight he
went OF the suns disk. whilo tho planet
ipg his way gradually over the surface OF the sun
eighteen photographs Of HIM were taken by Professor
Draper. several OF tho negatives being very good
ones Tho photographs are on plate eight by
SIX inches. and show picture OF tho sun
Eve inches III diameter with tho little dark spcck
cf p In its true position ut the time 81 expos
my t.e Mate. The negatives were timed bv cnro-
noincter making sidcreai time, which Is two hours
ana nlty -iour nutcs carrier than mean time. The
following different times at which the pictures
were made:--
II. Ms III. n y.
l............. 1 - 20 10 (cioudy)..... 10 ~
Z.............. Il o. . 90 Of
3............ l 40 81 12...........Not exposed
I........... 1 81 11.5 13.............. b 81
5.............. 2 40 IL ............. q II 80
U............ = III "A 1j.............. q - ~
T..... ..... 81 7.5 I6.............. ~
s.......... II H............ q 81 35.j
o...........5 1S.............. SO 5s.5