Smyrna times., 1882-12-13
observations of the Transit of
Venus.

Venus.
Inc astronomers should be congrat
ulated. Their observations of tn.
transit of Venus on Wednesday last
seem to have been upon the whole re
markably successful. In only a few
places was the sky so cloudy as to pre
vent any observation of the phenome
non. Even where clouds interfereC
with the work good results were never
theleSs obtained. There is one fact
which speaks volumes for the perfee
tion of workmanship attained bv on,
modern opticians in the construction O.
the lenses of telescopes. The "black
drop" which in the last century scr.
lously interfered with the observation
OF the internal contacts, and which
even after the transit of 1874 was
looked upon as a most troublesome
phenomenon, caused very little annov-
ance on the present occasion. Some
observers, who were favored with fine
weather, saw no black drop at all, and
were able to detect almost the exact
instant when the edge of Venus and
the rim of the sun were in contact,
both being clearly and sharply defined.
The photographs taken are said to be
OF great excellence, and in fact, all the
methods of observation used, appear to
have given satisfactory results. The
observers sent to the southern hemis-
phere were no less successful than
those in the northern hemisphere.
There is every indication that when
the records of the observations have
been combined, and the mathematical
computations made, the result will
show gratifying advance in the accu-
racy OF astronomical measurements.
AS was anticipated, some interesting
observations relating to the planet
Venus were made. Careful measure
ments Of her diameter were obtained
and the analyzing powers of the spec
trOscope were successfully applied to
her atmosphere, in which Prof. Young
detected indications of the existance of
a alueous valo This, so far as it goes.
may be regarded as showing a resem-
blance between the atmosphere of
Venus and that of the earth. One of
Prot. YOung's assistants also detected
unknown lines in the spectrum of
Nenus's atmosphere.
A very curious observation was
made by Prof. S. P. Langley at Pitts
burgh. When Venus had entered
about half way up the SUMS disk,
he saw near the circumference Of the
dark body of the planet outside the
suns disk bright point of light. This
could not have been caused by reflec-
ton of the SUMS rays, for the place
where 1t appeared was out of the reach
OF sunshine. Prof. Langly says it was
Certainly not phenomenon of irradia-
ton nor result Of any defect in the
observing instrument. If the obserya.
ton had been made by an astronomer
OF less skill and experience than Prof. |
Langley, it would probably be looked |
upon asan optical illusion. What there
can be upon the surface of Venus
capable of causing such an appearance
must remain a matter of conjecture
Certainly nobody will suspect the sup
posed inhabitants of Venus of having
lighted up a tremendous bonfire in
b nor of the transit, for they were
probably unaware of the interesting
part their planet was playing in the
celestial spectacle, of which the in
habitants of the earth were the only
spectators. Some astronomers have es-
lmated the height of the mountains of
Venus ut twenty miles but even if n
Volcano OF such gigantic size had been
n full activity, it could not have caused
he light seen by the Pittsburgh as
ronomer, he says it extended thirty
legrees along the planets limb, which
would correspond TO an actual length
Vt some two thousand milcs.-.N. Y
San.