National Republican., 1882-12-07


on the other hand, said he noticed the liga-
ments distinctly, and also says he saw two
small, black spots on the sun, while the outer
edge of Venus showed a crescent of diiiused
light both in approaching and departing from
the sun. Prof Hardness secured twelve
photographs before noon and iorty-ono after
meridian. lie began taking the latter at 1:45
p, m. and had forty-one taken Mt 210 p. IN.
He says yesterdays observations will not
settle the disputed length of the solar parallax.
A telegram received at the observatory
from Prof. Holden, at Madison, Wis, stated
that he had u good observation of two con-
facts before noon, when it began showing
heavily.
LONDON, Dec. 6.-Early this morning the
weather was fine and there were indications
that the transit would be successfully OBJ
served, hut the sky became overcast and some
snow fell rendering the transit totally in
visible from the Greenwich Observatory.
| ALBANY, N. Y, Dec. 6.-The astronomers
at the Dudley Observatory obtained no OBJ
servations this morning owing to the cloudy
condition of the sky.
OTTAWA, ONT, Dec. 6.-Mr. Blake, the OBJ
server here, took II successful observation.
BosToN, Dec. notwithstanding the
clouds, the Harvard Observatory made satis-
factory observations of the first and second
contacts.
!
unclouded from until II n. m. here, and the
first and second contacts were observed by q
number of citizens. Prof John G. Jackson
of Hockessin, using Washington time made
the contacts-first, hours SO minutes, 20
seconds; second, hours, 10 minntes, %
seconds.
PHILADELPHIA, Dec. 6.-Thc morning here
was cloudy for observations, but few min
utes before the first contact the sun shOne
forth brilliantly and afforded q good view
subsequently the atmosphere confined SO
hazy that there was no opportunity to make
either microscopic measurements or speCtro-
scopic observations; but both contacts were
successfully observed, and Profs. Snyder and
Ritter obtained beautiful results Both ac-
cord in being ahead of the Ephemeris time, or
| time got by computation. Through the
| six-inch telescope the entire planet
was visible ut first contact, and
also when half upon the limb. The
effect of Venus atmosphere was seen first in
the way of q delicate luminous haze around
the edge of the planet while still projecting off
the SUM- just before the moment of internal
contact this haze was very bright. There was
decided tendency of the crisp to flash out,
showing brilliant luminosity on the dark
side of the planet. The ligament which was
looked for with close scrutiny showed itself
very indefinitely formed.
HANOVER, N. H. Dec. 6.-Clouds pre-
vented the Dartmouth College observers view
ing the transit after o'clock.
BANGOR, Me-, Dec. 6.-Prof. Fernold, of the
Maine State College, had made elaborate ar
rangements to take observations but owing to
the cloudiness the first was not secured until
1905, Bangor time. The last interval of con-
tact was observed hours IL minutes SO sec
onds but the final external contact was OBJ
scured by Clouds
PHELPS, n. Y, Dec. 6.-Prof Brooks, of the
Redhouse Observatory, obtained u good obser-
Tation Drifting clouds obscured the external
contacts, both Mt ingress and egress, but the
internal contact was secured. Clouds also pre-
vented the photographing Of the transit, for
which extensive preparations were made, in
Guiding the use of electricity for controlling
the exposures. Prof Brooks discovered sew
eral faint patches of light on Venus, which he
believes were caused by the refraction of the
planets atmosphere.
SAN Francisco Dec. Ga dispatch from
Lick Observatory, at 0 a. m, says: "Splen-
did, clear day. Forty-eight photographs of the
transit already obtained.
ST. AUGUSTINE, FLA, Dec. 6.-The weather
is clear and beautiful. The observation of the
transit by the French astronomers on the
rampant of old Fort Marion was n complete
success 1t was conducted in Il strictly pri-
vate manner. Continuous photographs were
taken.
AIKEN, S. c., Dec. Cup to noon clouds
prevented the German astronomers from max
ing any observations.
KINGSTON, ONT, Dec. 6.-The weather
here was unfavorable, and the sun could only
be watched through riffs in the clouds. Soon
after the internal contact the sky became
completely covered. A ring of light around
Venus became very manifest long before the
internal contact.
QUEBEC, Dec. 6.-The weather was so
cloudy that nothing could be observed of the
first contact.
ST. JOHN, N, B., Dec. Ga severe south
west gale prevailed, and rain fell in torrents.
\ dispatch from Fredericktown saws that no
observations had been made at the university,
and that the prospects were poor for any be-
ing taken.
HARTFORD, CONN, Dec. Glowing to the
clouds during the early forenoon the German
astronomers taking observations at Trinity
College were unable to get the contact of the
ingress of the planet upon the sun, but at l
o'clock they had been successful in securing
five full sets of heliometric measurements.
ROCHESTER,, N. Y, Dec. 6.-The transit was
not observed here by any one save Prof
Robinson at the university, who saw it Just as
the planet began to notch the suns disc
Dense clouds have covered the sky all the
morning.
NEW HAVEN, CONN, Dec. 6.-Prof. LYMAN
found, by the Yale time service, that about
900 o'clock there was a difference of 20 min
utes Al seconds and a fraction between the
inner and outer contact of the planet with the
SUMS disc. He enjoyed very fair view of
the transit.
PRINCETON, N. j., Dec. 6.-Although there
were light clouds the observations at Prince
ton College We're favorable, and some of the
photographs taken are very good.
NEW YORK, Dec, 6.--ln the main the as
tronomers here are satisfied with the result
of their observations At first the atmosphere
gave an undulating motion, SO that the first
contact was not observed as well as was hoped
At the College of the City of New York Prof
John w, Draper succeeded in getting eight
plates of thirty-two discs on each plate.
His plates during the first and second contacts
were very good, but at the third and fourth
contacts much better, and will be of great
value. The plates were taken at intervals of
five seconds. They will be magnified many
times, and the professor will then be able to
measure the discs and make his calculations.
BY sitting out all but the blue rays of light,
which act best upon the plates, he succeeded
in procuring much sharper image than has
before been taken.
| BALTIMORE, Dec. GA party of observers
on the grounds Of the Johns Hopkins hospital
under the direction of Prof Hastings, OBJ
! served successfully the second, third, and
! fourth contacts; the first being lost through
clouds. Four minutes before the second con-
tact the atmospheric ring was seen all round
Venus, notwithstanding rather hazy sky.
| CEDAR KE 8, FLA, De 6,-Plrtly cloudy
| III morning. The first CO act was obseured
| by clouds. The other contacts were clearly
seen, and no trouble was experienced from
the black drop. One hundred and eighty
| good photographs and $50 dry plates were
| taken.
! WEST POINT, N. Y, Dee. 6.-The observa-
/ tions here of the first and second contacts were