IN THE ARCTIC SKAS. 



33 



Recapitulation of results for longitude of Van Rensselaer Ilarljnr I)y oecultations of planets and a 

 solar eclipse : — 



Oeciiltatiou of Saturn 



of Mars 

 Eclipse of the sun 



December 12, 1853 

 January 8, 1854 

 February 4-5, 1854 

 February 13, 1854 

 May 15, 1855 



Mean 



4'' 43'" 51«.8 



4 43 31.0 



4 43 27.0 



4 43 01.2 



4 43 41.9 



4 43 30.7 ± &" 



Resulting longitude from moon culminations, 1853-54 1 4'^ 43" 32. ''0 ± 13» 



" " " 4 oecultations and one eclipse, 1853-4-5 | 4 43 30.7 ± 6 



Final longitude of Fern Rock Observatory and Van Rensselaer 



Harbor winter quarters, adopted 4'' 43°' 31« ± 7' W. of Greenw. 



= 70° 52' 45" ± If 



The approximate longitude adopted by Mr. Sonntag, as given in the Narrative, 

 page 398, Appendix No. IX, vol. II, is 4" 42" 40% or 70° 40' 00"; in my reduction 

 of the magnetic observations of the expedition, this approximate result was retained, 

 it should therefore be increased by 51% or 12' 45"; in my reduction of the meteoro- 

 logical observations, I have adopted a value resulting from a preliminary reduction 

 of the moon culminations, viz. : 4'' 43'" 32% or 70° 53'. 



If we compare any of the separate results for longitude with the final value, and, 

 in considering the probable errors, it should be remembered that one degree of lon- 

 gitude in the parallel (78° 37') of Van Rensselaer is but 11.88 nautical miles, thus 

 the above uncertainty of 7% in the final result for longitude, is but half a mile of 

 linear measure. 



The following pages contain the record and reduction of some astronomical 

 observations obtained on the coast of Greenland by the expedition, in 1853, when 

 on the way to Van Eensselaer Harbor. The names of these stations arc as fol- 

 lows: — 



1. Fiskernaes, flagstaff near the Governor's house. 



2. " small island, on the northern side of the harbor. 



3. Proven, place near the Governor's house. 



4. Upernavik, garden near the Governor's house. 



5. Fog Inlet, or Refuge Ilarbor, southwest end of inner harbor. 



6. " " hill to the northward of the harbor. 



7. Bedevilled Reach, afterwards called Cape Inglefield. 



8. Marshall Bay. 



~5 



