Year: 1874

A Jeramtnh HOrrOx-'rhe First OBJ


seryatIOn of the Transit OF


venus.


The first transit of Venus ever seen by
human eye was predicted by'a boy,
and was observed by that boy just as he
reached the age of manhood. His name
was Jeremiah Horrox. We have a
somewhat wonderful story to tell you
about this boy.


He lived in an obscure village near
Liverpool, England. He was lover Of
books Of science, and before he reached
the age Of eighteen he had mastered the
astronomical knowledge of the day. He
studied the problems of Kepler, and he
made the discovery that the tables OF
Kepler indicated the near approach OF
the transit Of Venus across the suns
center. This was about the year 1855


Often on midsummer nights the boy
Horrox might have been seen In the
fields watching the planet Venus. The
desire sprung up within him to see the
transit of the beautiful planet across the
disc OF the sun, for it was sight that no
eve had ever seen, and one that would
tend to solve some of the greatest prob
1
astronomer. So the boy began to exam
inc the astronomical tables OF kepler,
and by their aid endeavored to demon
strate at what time the next translt
would occur. He found an error IN the
tables. and then he being the first of all
astronomers to make the precise calcn'
lation, discovered the exact date when
the next transit would take place.


He told his secr,t to an intimate friend,
boy, who, like himseli, loved science.
The Young astronomer then awaited the
event which he had predicted for mum.
Der of years, never seeing the loved
planet in the shaded evening sky without
dreaming OF the day when the transit
should fulfill the beautiful vision he car
ried IN his mind.


The memorable year came at last
1899. The predicted day of the transit
came too, at the end of the year. 1t was
Sunday. 1t found Horrox, the boy as
tronomer, now just past twenty years OF
age, intently watching sheet OF paper
in a private room, on which lay the sun s
reflected image. Over this reflection OF
the suns disc on the paper he expected
moment by moment to see the planet
pass like moving spot or shadow.


Suddenly the church-bells rang he
was a very religious youth, and was ac-
customed to heed the church-bells as a
call from heaven. The paper still was
spotless; no shadow broke the outer edge
Of the suns luminous circle.


Still the church.bells rang. Should
he go2 A cloud might hide the sun be-
fore his return, and the expected disclo-
sure be lost for century.


But Horrox said to himself; must
not neglect the worship of the Creator
to see the wonderful thing the Creator
has made"


So he left the reflected image Of the
sun on the paper and went to the sanctu-
airy.


When he returned from the service, he
hurried to the room. The sun was still
shining, and there, like shadow on the
bright circle on the paper, was the image
of the planet Venusl 1t crept slowly
along the bright center, like the finger
of the invisible. Then the boy astrono
mer knew that the great problems OF
astronomy were correct, and the thought
filled his pure heart with religious Joy.


Horrox died at the age of twenty-five,
Nearly one hundred and thirty years
alterward Venus was seen crossing the
sun. The whole astronomical world was
then interested in the event, and expedi-
tions Of observation we're fitted out by
the principal European governments:
1t was observed in this country by David
Rittenhouse, who tainted when he saw
the great vision.