THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume XIX, Issue 6570, 7 December 1882, Page 5

THE TRANSIT OF VENUS.

Br the time these lines are read by most of our readers, the great astronomical event of the age will have taken place. Tenus will have made her transit across the sun's disc, and the data for determining with scientific exactness the interesting and important questions which hinge upon the phenomenon will, it is hoped, have been obtained. Last night the American party of observation at the Domain had completed the whole of their arrangements, which are of the most perfect and admirable description. Should the meteorlogical conditions prove favourable, there is uo doubt that the telescopic and photographic observations will be highly successful, but at the time of writing appearances scarcely justify very sanguine anticipations in regard to the weather. The sky is overcast in parts. It will also be seen from one of the telegrams below that the weather last night at Christehnreli, where the British astronomers are stationed, was unfavourable, but at other parts of the colony from which we have received despatches it was bright and clear. In connection with the the transit of Venus observations Mr. J. T. Stephenson, Fellow of the Selenographical Society, has received instructions from Colonel Tupman, F.R.A.S., and chief of the British expedition at Burnham, to observe the transit from Auckland. The telescope employed will be a G£ inch equatorially mounted silvered glass reflector, by the well known maker Calver. By the courtesy of the American astronomers, the telescope has been fitted up within their enclosure. The British expedition have sent from Christchurch a first surface reflecting prism to be used with this telescope. The New Zealand Government have also given Mr. Stevenson great facility by granting free use of the telegraph wires to communicate with Colonel Tupman.

[by tklesrai-h.] Wellinot n, Wednesday. The arrangements for observing the transit of Venus to-morrow morning are complete, and there is at present every appearance of the morning being bright and clear. Obseryations will be taken as follow :—Mount Cook, Mr. MeKerrow, Surveyor-General, and Mr. Adams. Thorndon : Archdeacon Stock and Mr. T, King. Mr. Bedwell's station (Wairarapa): Mr. J. \V. Marchant (Chief Surveyor) and Captain Hewit, R.N. New Plymouth : Mr. Humphreys (Chief Surveyor). Nelson : Mr. A. S. Atkinson, a brother of the Colonial Treasurer. Christuhurch : Mr. Kitson and Mr. Muuro (surveyors): Timaru : The Venerable Archdeacon Harper. Ounedin : Mr. R. Gillies, Mr. A. Beverley, and Mr. 11. Skey. Clyde, Dr. Hector. Complete intercommunication by telegraph has been effected through the aid of Ur. Lemon and his staff, and for eomc days and nights past time signals have been exchanged between the various observatories.

. Our Wellington correspondent telegraphs : —All the preparations for observing tomorrow's transit of Venus are now perfected. The observers will be at work all night taking sidereal observations with the transit instruments as checks on time and the clocks. At present there is every sign of fine weather. The sky is cloudless, the barometer is high, and there is no wind. I may mention that even should the transit observations unhappily fail, some valuable results to the colony will accrue from the preliminary work in the shape of the accurate determination of longitude, which has now been checked by means of the electric circuit, right through to Greenwich, and the time has been frequently exchanged with Sydney, &c, so that a very close approximation to absolute accuracy is now arrived at. A new zenith telescope of American invention, for determining latitude, has been erected at the Mount Cook observatory, and has enabled the latitude also to be precisely ascertained, so in any ease all the works and expense will not be fruitless.

CiIJUSTCiiDKCH, Wednesday. The weather promises very badly for the transit to-morrow. It is blowing steadily from the north-east. The sky is thickly clouded. Ti.MAKti, Wednesday. Archdeacon Harper will observe the transit of Venus here to-morrow in connection with the English party at Cliristolmrch. The weather to-night is very tine and clear.