The Transit of Venus.

Star (Christchurch), Issue 4563, 8 December 1882, Page 3

The Transit of Venus.

[bf slsctrio telegraph-copyright.] [Special to Press Association.] [ReoeivoJ Doc. 7, at 10.30 p.ni.J LONDON, Dec. 6. Very snccessful obaervations of the transit were obtained in America, Capetown, Durban, and the West of England. At Paris and Madrid the weather was cloudy, and prevented the contact being distinctly observed. The transit was plainly visible at Cork, but at other stations in Ireland the Bky was overcast. rßocuvod Doo. 7, nt, 9 p.m.] SYDNEY, Dec. 7. Rain fell this morning, and heavy clouds prevented the observation of the transit of Venus. BRISBANE, Dec. 7. Tho intended observations of the transit of Venus were rendered impracticable by bad weather. Heavy raiu fell both here and at Jimbour, and the English astronomers did not succeed in taking any observations. HOBART, Dec. 7. Tho observations of tho transit of Venus were completely successful this morning. The weather was very favourable, and the observers consider the results perfect throughout. DUNEDIN, Dec. 7. Mr Arthur Beverly furnishes tho following with, regard to tho trixnpit of Venus :— " At an early hour thia morning the prospect looked rather gloomy for tho Dunedin observers of tho tranflit ; but ao tho critical timo approached, (ho clouds cleared imiy, and loft tho nun shining through h faint bazo in tho upper ntmosphcre. Thia liaza improved tho dnfinition woncorfully, for whrn it cleared away a few rnioutcs before inU-rr.al contact, tho outline ot tho Bun, v»~kh was

previously sharp and steady, began to flicker slightly. The haae also reduced tho irradiation nearly to zero, co that there was ho appearance of black drop, or any of tb.oßß perplexing phenomena which occur at internal contact when the sky is clear. Altogether, the weather could hardly have been better if got up for the occasion. The disc of Tenui while on the sun appeared very sharply defined, and as it approached the edge of the Bun, tho luminous lino separating them beoame finer and finer, until it vanished at the point of contact. This was not a prolonged affair, as wo were led to expect ; the breaking of tho luminous thread was so sudden that there could hardly bo a mistake of two seconds in recording it. In about ten seconds after oontuot, the only other phenomenon worth mentioning began to appear. The part of Venus which projeoted beyond the eun'a disc Bhowed a very fine pink outline, caused no doubt by the sunlight refracted through her atmosphere, which continued visible until the diso of Venus projected about a fifth of its diameter beyond the solar diso. It then gave way at the north side, but continued visible at the south side until Venus was half off, when it appeared like a minute pink haze standing perpendicular to the sun'B margin, at th» edge of the semicircular notch. Tho times of oontaot bb observed approximately were — Internal, 7h 31min ; external, 7h 51min, New Zealand mean time ; or about ten minutes later th-m the times given in tha Nautical Almanac. How Buch a blunder could have been made by the conductors of that publication it is not easy to see."