National Republican., 1882-12-11
NOT ALTOGETHER LOVELY.
A Blcmish In the Beauty OF Venus Discov-
cred by Pittsburg gAstronomer-Results
OF the Recent observations.
piLlsl,iirn Disnnich.

PiHsb,uo Dispatch
Prof. s. p. Langley whose discovery during
the recent transit of Venus of a remarkable
and heretofore unobserved spot on the body
of that planet has awaked such general in
terest in scientific circles was yesterday af-
ternoon found at the Allegheny observatory,
"Have you completed your calculations
upon the results achieved in the observa-
tions of the transit?" inquired the writer
"No, sir; we have not" replied the profess
sor. Many months will olapse before that
work can be accomplished The world at large
is under the impression that the labor of as
tromers consists in taking observations. For
every hour spent in making an observation OF
any kind there are twenty hours spent in
making mathematical calculations upon it.
1t is eight years since the transit of Venus in
1874, and a million of dollars has probably
been expended, yet the work on that is not
completed vet, and will not he for some time
to come. The full results of the recent transit
will not be known definitely for years."
"What achievements were specially antici-
pated by scientists in their observations on
the recent transit"
"Quite number. One was to correct the
total error of previous observations as to the
distance of the sun. This task was about
equal to placing an average human hair at
distance of $50 yards and trying to measure its
thickness That about represents the angular
amount that is in question. The whole thing
turns on a certain angle called the solar paral-
lax"
About this spot ON the planet Venus; had
you anticipated anything of the kindY"
"No, sir. In previous observations a rim
of light has been noticed circling the edge of
| the planet before its entrance upon the disc OF
the sun. l determined to pay special atten-
tion to this feature of this transit and in
structcd my assistants to the same effect. 1t
/ tI,n rnnt Of At,p ptt hntn m
| trated upon this feature of the transit that
led to the discovery of the spot. Other OBJ
servers directed their efforts to the observance
of the first contact, the formation of the black
drop, and other points of equal interest"
"The line of light on the edge of the
planet" continued the professor, " was plainly
defined, but in addition to 1t | observed spot
extending inward one-fourth the radius of
the planet, and along the edge, approximately,
one-twelfth of the whole circumference. l
observed it closely, and as the planet entered
the sun the spot widened apparently, stretch
ing out long the edge and disappearing
finally when Venus was wholly upon the disc
of the sum-"
"What theory have you for the appearance
of this phenomenon"
"I have none at all. 1t is wholly inexpli-
cable. Owing to the wavering edge | could
not be positive that the spot was wholly upon
the body of the planet. 1t might have been a
to account for it, From its appearance, how
ever, judge that it covered 1000 miles OF
more of the surface of the planet. 1t might
be due in some way to reiraction caused by an
extraordinary protuberance of the atmosphere
of Venus, though why such protuberance
should exist we are at loss to say"
At this point Prof Langley was called
away, when his assistant, Mr.. Keeler, said
Aside from the observation to determine the
distance of the sun, we consider as probably
next in importance the spectroscopic observa
tions of Prof. Young, of Princeton, atiording
as he says, unmistakable evidence of the pres
ence of water upon Venus. The presence o
water is determined by the appearances o
lines in the spectrum of the sunlight which
pusscp close to the edge of Venus. These ar
, caused by water vapor in the atmosphere sur
, rounding the planet. AT Ann Arbor, Mich.
, the observers detected some spots on the sur
, face of the planet, / believe, but nothing
! similar to that observed by us. No con
,, lecture is made as to the cause by them."
, "The presence of water upon the plane
> Venus suggests the probability of inhabi
i tants."
, mo astronomer would care to say tina
= Venus is not inhabited" replied the gentle
q man with laugh. "The presence of waite
q renders this more probable"
= In conclusion Mr. Keeler stated that the
i were highly gratifed that the German as
f tronomers who came to this country had me
q with such marked success in their observa
+ tions. One party was at Aiken, S. c., an
- the other at Hartford, Conn, both station
\ having been selected at the suggestion of Pro
a fessor Langley.