Sacramento daily record-union. [volume] (Sacramento [Calif.]) 1875-1891, 1882-12-09
TIE LATE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

There is much importance attached to the
exactness of time and its correct quotation in
the observation made Of the transit Of Venus
on Wednesday in Sacramento, as well as the
details generally of the observation. a. f.
Goddard, who was present at the observation
taken at The Capitol building, with two and
half inch telescope, excerpts to the state.
ment sent from the East that observations
made with 50 small an instrument are value
less, aud cites Dr. Dicks case, who, with an
instrument of two and half inches in mag
oitude, and 90 in power, made observatipns
Il the most delicate character, He also ex-
plains that st the Sacramento observatory
San Francisco and not Sacramento time
was used. To add the three minutes and for
tv-cne seconds difference is m terial matter
The time taken was lin. 42m. 45s., and should
therefore be read llh. 46m. 263. for the last in
ternal contact and l2h. On. o., Sacramento
time on the theory that Mr.. Shearer was
giving San Francisco time. L. was admitted
that llh, 42n. 45s. was little late and 11n.
~ n. 20s. would probably be nearer C rect;
that gives llh. 46m. Is, showing difference
ot On. Is. from the Washington predicted
time lla. 40m. for Sacramento. He adds
"A less difference is observable at the last
contact, the predicted time being la. 2m 0s,
aud our observed time for Sacramento Pa
q n. 65., or An. g.. later than the Washington
prediction. lt was evidently supposed that
Sacramento time Was used when it was stated
that the last observation was within %
seconds OF the given time. But the
telegram from Professor Davidson at
Cerra Roble, New Mexico, that il was much
later than the predicted time, and Professor
HalPs telegram from San Antonio, Texas,
that the two last contacts were a little later
than the predicted time afford confirmation
that it wss alec later here, as Professor Ben.
dar's observations III IKE it; and therefore we
| may be congratulated on that score, although
not in coming within % seconds of the
| Washington prediction, which il appears we
! did not ! believe the Astronomical Com
mission is forbidden from giving the public
! the exact time of the observations yet,
| although all are anxious to
come at the facts as early as possible.
Il appears. too, that Sergeant Barwick's
| time was sos. faster than MIR. Shearet's, and
still he thought he mad San Francisco correct
| time that would make the last internal con-
ttct lib. i6m. &c :, and the last contact
| l2h. 6n. SOS. One report from San Fran
cisco makes the internal contact at lib.
| 39n. o., AID the last contest ia. ON. and
few seconds. These figures would give
lin. 42m. Ais. for 5 .cramento, ard l25. 3m.
| Ais. That, of course, confirms Professor
! Bsnder's idea, that he did not call for time
soon enough at the last internal contact ;
| but it also makes it strongly sugges-
| tive thst Mr.. Shearer's time was Sac.
! rsmento time after all. But another San
Francisco report of the observatory opera
| ton makes the last Internal contact at 1Ih.
! 42E., or three minutes later than the other re.
| port makes it, and the last contact is reported
at l2h 02m o.. instead of a few seconds after
| ~ Thus liz. IL n. o. should make our time
! lln- 10 Il. As, and points almost cnncusively
/ that Mr.. Shesrer's time was San Francisco
| time a. 10. An. 45s, but that Major Beu-
der mad called 10 seconds late. Maj)r Ben
| der fully believes this now. The 17h. 2m. Gs.
| observation at San Frapci.co should make
| our time 12l. 5m As. for the last contact,
| showing that Mi + Bender called % seconds
| to late, watch is possible; and 1la. 40 H.
/ Ais. and 12h. ON. 4ls. for the two last con
facts in Sacramento will therefore probably
| be found correct