New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1882-12-06
THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.
PREPARATIONS IN THIS VICINITY

tlon OF the most elaborate. expensive and thor
ough preparations ever made for the observation
to-day OF the transit of Venus In them the ex-
peiiences OF centuries have been utilized and II
tho outcome is not of great value to science 1t VIII
be because the combined intellect of the world,
quickened by glowing enthusiasm and ripened by
higher. broader and deeper study than has ever
before been possible, is yet too weak to overcome
IN. obstacles which attend some OF the celestial
phenomena. few clouds for half an hour in the
forenoon and afternoon of to-day may make years
OF labor in Van but it is hardly possible that disap-
pointments of this kind can be more than local.
The entire transit will be visible in all of the
territory of the United States except the extreme
northwest, in every part of the Dominion Of Can
ada except the provinces the Pacific coast in all
OF South America. Africa and Great Britain and
nearly all OF Europe. Unfa yorable meteorolog-
lcal conditions. therefore, unless they extend over
all THIS great territory (which would in itself be an
extraordinary phenomenon) cannot prevent the
securing this time OF the most perfect results ever
obtained from the rare astronomical event; for
the observers are everywhere in the countries men,
toned. Unfortunately the prospects unfavor-
able yesterday in this vicinity and III New-Eng
land. where some of the most Important govern
mental and private stations are situated clouds
and rain being threatened.
Ia the case of most of the foreign observers who
are prepared only to make observations of the
contacts at the hgress and egress of the planet in
tervening clouds at the beginning and end of the
spectacle will frGstrate their mission. The plan
adopted by most of the Americans, however, which
embraces photographing as well rs mere observa-
tion of the contacts, has the advantage that any
few intervals of sunshine during the time occu-
pied by the planet in its passage across the disk of
IN bo uti in. nil which
when brought iu.o comparison with similar pictures
made in other parts of the world, may help to solve
the problem which has occasioned all the present
excitement. Excellent results of this kind will
come from tn, vicinity of New York if photography
is at all possible. Professor Young at Princeton
and Professor Parkhurst in Brooklyn can be
relied on dor very valuable contributions in this
direction. Observations of a less elaborate char
aCter will also be made at Columbia College, the
University OF the City of New-YOrk, the College of
the City OF New York, at Cooper Union and from
the top of the Western Union Telegraph Bulldog.
Amateur astronomers in the city aud scores OF
cities, towns and villages in the State will also try
their skill at making and recording observations II
the weather permits This IS proved by the inter
est shown in the signals or Washington mean time
which have been sent out since Monday by the
Western Union Telegraph Company These sig
nails have been distributed each day over thirty
wires, applications having come from large
number Of places; among them Montreal, Easton.
Penn: Poughkeepsie (Vassar College,, Kingston.
Williamstown, Amherst Mass. Hanover, \. H.;
Roch1ster, ElizaOeth, n j.; Buffalo. Williams
burg and Hunters Point.
the Army yesterday was full of forebodings Of bad
weather for to-day. The Ocal reports telegraphed
to Washington at a. m. showed that storm had
been developed In the Southwest on Monday and
was moving in q northeasterly direction.
Yesterday morning it was central near Cairo, Miss,
Cloudy weather and local rains were reported from
the Gulf States Tennessee and the Ohio Valley and
as far nOrthward as Iowa. Partly cloudy weather
and light SHOWS were reported from New;England,
the northern portions OF the the Middle states,
dications were that the clOudness would increase
during Yesterday the Atlantic coast, with local
rains or light snow and light rains, followed by
clearing weather, in the South Atlantic States to-
day. There seemed also a possibility that
the storm might pass off over the great
lakes and leave sufficiently clear wealth
er in New England to enable the observers
there to work successfully. During the day there
were warm southery winds and occasional rains
il the Southern Middle and New-Engand states,
and colder northerly winds with light snowfall Is IN
the Northwest and upper lake region. These facts
promised ill for to-day, except to the observers
at which places it seemed probable that there
might be some clear weather, though whether
enough to make the reports from there OF great
practical value ii matter OF doubt.
the "' Uniied State; are at Washington,
Ncw-Hayen, Cambridge, Princeton. Cedar KEYS,
Florida, San Antonio, Texas, and Fort Selden, N.
NJ, where American astronomers of eminence are.
and Hartford Conn, and Aiken, > o., which are
the points CnOseH Dy tNo P"Ahco
OBSERVATIONS TO BE MADE IN NNEW-HAYEN.
TALKS WITH PROFESSOR NEWTON AND OTHERS
WHAT is EXPECTED OF THE NEW HEIoMETER
PREPARING TO TAKE PHOTOGRAPHS
IFRoM AN ocC AsIoNAL CORRESPONDENT TRIBUNE.
NEw-HAvEN Conn, Dec. 5.-COnsiderable inter
est attaches the observations of the transit of
Venus, which will be made here tomorrow, be-
cause they will be made by the aid of the new
heiometer, which constructed by Repsod ~
Sons of Hamburg is the first to be used by Ameri-
can scientists in the United States, and is the
largest ever made. TRIBUNE correspondent who
visited the Lew observatory in Prospect-st this
morning found several gentlemen computing loga-
ritbms and preparing chemicals and instruments
for photographng purposes in the midst OF most
scientific disorder
"Tbe next transit won't occur until 2OO4,"
said Professor Newton. the director of the
observatory, good humoredy, and the time
IS short We are anxious. to crowd as
many discoveries as possible into This century. You
will notice that have mounted the glass of our
eouatoral out Of doors in order to utilize all in
strumentsv and he pointed TO a mound swept clear
of snow little distance from the building, where
the eight-inch glass of the large telescope swung
in long. funnel-shaped, wooden box more Tesem-
Hing an unpain ted pump than anything In the as
Economical line.
"You will find Mr.. Wilson and Mr.. Crawford
using the phooheliograph in the east tower" said
Professor Newton. After observing the process Of
taking negatives and admiring the elaborate clock
work and machinery by which the eye of the tele-
scope, graduated TO the dual motion of the earth
and sun, followed its object through the 6eecy
clouds. the correspondent inquired If the coming
transit had cast any shadows before. We have
discovered no spots lately" said Mr.. Wilson.
During the electric storm few weeks ago belt
of disturbance was visible to the naked eye on the
suns surface THIS soon disappeared, and you Will
observe from negatives taken this morning by the
photoheliograph that the disk is not obscure"