New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1881-06-27
THE COMING TRANSIT or T'EyUs.
TALK WITH PROFESSOR -oBsEEyAuoYs
on THE LAST OCCASION NOr ACCCRATE-HOw
THE COMING OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE M


A TALK WITH PROFESSOR NLWCOhB- B-OBSEENAllONS
on THE LAST OCCASION NOr ACCCRATE-HOw
THE COMING OPPORTUNITY SHOULD BE IN
PROVED.
lBY TELEGRArn TO TIE TRIBCSE.l
WASHINGTON, June 2G.--In the course Of
conversation with TRIBUNE correspondent recently on
the Transit OF Venus which will take place December g.
1857 Professor Simon Newconb said that improve
have Jeen made IN tho Instruments observation
since the last transit in 1874 1t had been asccraned
beyond doubt that the made last
casion not accurate 1T first supposed Tho
American photographs successful ~ compared
with the European, which had been neglected be
of little The American photographs however. were
not good TO justify repetition Of the operations
with their aid solely. The delay which arose In working
out definite results with regard 70 the transit of
1874 mainly due 10 two causes. The
amount OF labor involved in ths work and the
want for time ofany force make nice calculations
delay In getting work ready for press in the
first instance. II also generally considered y as-
ronomers that the best would be to have each
nation publish lis own observations and then obtain
someone TO work cut the 1al for all The neccs
sary different stations aud the cloudy weather prevented
any good result from being obtained the observers OF
any nation The only exceptions the American
phA which is intended work up as soon a.
possible.
"As the transit OF next year." said Professor New
comb 81 have 20 believe that the results OBJ
any considerable expenditure by the Government.
Nothing can be done our part until Congress
makes some appropriation-whatev II may consider
neoessary-and gvee national authorization for the
ganizaiiOn OF the work have doubt that the
urcment Of the velocity Of tight which am now en-
gagged will give results far satisfactory than those
OF the transit OF Nenus and at expenditure insignh
cant compared with that Of sending parties foreign
stations. Still, We obliged make the best Obsef-
vatons possible on so rare phenomenon. 1t will
again until the year 2OOf think should make
the best possible preparations for observing IL In every
par this country. II will be visible in the eastern
part OF the continent about midday and before
on the Pacific Coast. The only preference Of
station depends upon the chances OF clear weather,
and December II n cloudy month Therefore cannot
expect to % successful than Onc-ha OF the sta
tions selected All do is 10 give preference 20
those stations where meteorological observations show
the best chance for clear day. OF course IL will be do
sirabe TO make observations the plan those
made abroad. From preparations now going ON In Eng
land and France 1t would that the Governments OF
these countries intend sending expeditions TO different
parts of the world and system OF observation ought
To conform their The French have per
msnent commission OF study and q similar plan has re-
Gently been adopted by the Royal Society OF England
The commission which conducted observstions In
1874 might DO continued In charge OF The next one but