96 (TRANSIT OF VENUS). MR. A. R. BAIN: REPORT 
Transit of Venus, Dec. 6th, 1882.— Report of the observations at Cobourg. 
By A. R. BAIN. 
[Communicated by C. Carpmacl, M. A.) 
(Abstract. ) 
A few minutes before 8 A.M., dense masses of clouds began to rise in the north-west, 
and by ten minutes past eight the whole heavens, with the exception of a small area in the 
north and east were covered, completely shutting out the sun from view. These clouds 
did not break away till long after external and internal contact at ingress were passed. 
Shortly before two the atmosphere, which had been comparatively steady began to be 
disturbed, and ftapidly became worse while flying clouds now and again swept across the 
face of thesun. Before the time of internal contact at egress the boiling of the atmosphere 
was such as to render observations very unsatisfactory. 
The limbs of sun and planet appeared to spin. 
The limb of the sun at which contact was about to take place seemed to consist of 
filaments of light, each revolving swiftly in a small spiral, 
Internal contact at egress appeared to take place at 2" 33" 27°, by the chronometer, 
which was then 2" 29°. 5 fast of the time at the Toronto observatory. Just at this critical 
time a cloud swept sun and planet out of sight, and when it had passed a small are of the 
planet’s limb was decidedly beyond the sun’s limb, while a narrow beautifully distinct 
white line of light surrounded that portion of the planet’s limb which was beyond the 
sun. 
The telescope used was a 4} inch refractor, equatorily mounted, and made by Smith, 
Beck & Beck, London, England. Power employed was about 150. 
The ever narrowing band of light over which the planet was slowly moving as it 
approached the sun’s limb was heaving, boiling and apparently spinning in manner des- 
cribed in previous report; other than this nothing peculiar was seen. No black drop 
presented itself, no distortion of planet’s limb, such as an elongation towards point of 
contact, nor till part of the planet was beyond sun’s disc did any arc of white light surround 
the planet’s disc. The exact instant when that beautiful white are of light first appeared 
I know not, for just after what seemed to be contact a cloud came over, and when it was 
passed the arc of light was there. The cloud was on face of planet and sun full five 
seconds. 
It was impossible to take a point North and another South of the point at which con- 
tact was about to take place, and note when the illumination of the point of contact began 
to be distinctly less than that of the points chosen ; for the sun’s limb was not still enough 
to admit of any such thing. It appeared constantly to heave and surge. 
With this exception the planet moved steadily towards contact, presenting no pheno- 
mena different from those observed at any earlier stage. The A, B, C, D, E were remarks 
made at the telescope while the observation was making, the exact word used, and the 
instant at which each phrase was spoken being noted by the assistants. 
