The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1894-11-25
MERCURY'S GHosTLY Moon.
Mr.. Maine's Further Observations a. TO the
Disputed Discovery.


In THE Sun Of Tuesday. Nov. Is, Garrett p.
SeTviss discusses the Obser walton OF Mercury
serib s1 in the Bsm no. 3 s Hma cSIo mGrGh Is m1I sa as.
Mr. seryiss says that he saw the appearance
transit. but attributed II to the nothing OF the
suns surface, " and thought little OF it." II is
quite apparent that with the comparatively high
power 15O diameters) employed, Mr.. Servlss
did not get q very good View OF tho shadow. and
This view corresponds precisely with the results
OF the effort made here TO observe the shadow
with a power higher than 32 diameters. Tho
shadow appeared thin under a power OF 90, and
was barely visible. This experiment led 10 the
suggestion that the shadow might lie missed alto
high, magnifying power. In such a breeze as
was blowing during the transit Of Mercury. the
seeing must always be better with a small tele-
scope and low magnifying power than with a
large instrument and a high power. For this
reason u does not follow that a thing seen with
\ small telescope must necessarily be visible In
large Instruments.
The matter OF chief interest in the remarks by
Mr.. Serviss Is the statement that he noted the
appearance OF the shadow, and located IL with
accuracy in advance, or to the westward OF ths
planet. His statement that the direction OF the
shadow from the planet vas a little 10 the south
of west Is also strictly in accordance with the
observation made here although the sontherly
IL in the description published on Sunday. The
careful description by MT. SeryissOf the bearing
the same thing that was seen here. but IL is EVIL.
dent that he did not see soclearly, and therefore
y did not impress him At the time as being Of
Importance.
The fact that the shadow was seen by two
persons Independently in this city and BY an
other at BaypOrt, !. l., indicates that the object
was real and 70 be explained on some other
ground than an optical illusion, What is the
true explanation Z fhs suggestion made on
Sunday that the effect was produced by a case
Gus body accompanying Mercury still holds
good. In discussing this suggestion Mr.. SER
viss Is conservative, but gives II as much weight
a. could be expected at the present.
The Rev. Samuel ChRrlesWOrth Of London.
England, who came 20 the United States for the
express purpose of observing the transit uf Mer-
curry, writes from MOntclAir, y. H.. 10 the UtBlO-
Graf and Chronicle observer as follows. as intro
ductOry TO some remarks concerning the ohseT-
walton described last sunday morning: "IhAVs
come from London especially 20 see the transit.
Is IL could be observed alone In the United
States. The enclosed rough notes briefly mem
ton the principal object OF my INJURY These
notes, prepared In advance OF the transit,
contain the following: This transit as seen
from the United states affords an Opportunity
for deciding once and forever whether Mercury
does or does not possess a satellite. IL there be
one y must be apparent on the suns disk above
or below, before or behind the planet: II none
such b seen, then the negative Is equally cer-
tain." Nv CharleswOrth, who describes him-
self A. 81 aEed amateur" closed hls ~oircuIaF
~ ssktnS su0n0msEs 10 look fOE . satellites