VOt. LX.] PHILOSOPHICAL TRANSACTIONS. 81 



XL. The Transit of yemis and other Astronomical Observations, made in the 

 fVest Indies. By M. Pingre, of the Royal Acad, of Sciences at Paris, p. 497. 



At Cape Francis in the island of St. Domingo. 



June 3, first perceived Venus entering on the sun's disk, apparent time, as 

 below: 



At 2" 26" 14*-J^ With Dollond's 24^ feet telescope. M. de Fleurieu. 

 2 26 164- With a 3-foot achromatic of I'Estang. M. la Filiere. 

 2 26 20-j^ With a common telescope of 2 feet, only 2 lenses. M. des 



Saqui Toures. 

 2 26 12-i- With a 5-feet achromatic. M. Pingre. 



After having given their eyes some respite, they returned to the telescopes ; 

 and M. de Fleurieu perceived a luminous little circle all round Venus, not yet 

 entered more than about one third of her diameter. This luminous thread made, 

 to all appearance, a perfect circle with the part of the circumference of Venus al- 

 ready advanced on the sohu" disk. Mr. P. likewise observed the same pheno- 

 menon, but a good while after M. de Fleurieu. j 

 Venus appeared totally entered at 2^ 44™ 45^ By M. de Fleurieu. , 



44 4 1 By le Chev. de la Filiere. 

 42 50 By M. Saqui des Toures. 

 44 44 By Mr. Pingre. 

 During both these observations, every thing was quiet and still, not a word 

 uttered, to intimate that any one had observed the contact. Stormy weather 

 almost every night hindered them from observing the eclipses of the satellites. 

 However, the 10th of June proving a clear night, afforded an opportunity of 

 determining the latitude of the observatory; which by meridian altitudes of se- 

 veral stars, both to the north and south, Mr. P. determined to be IQ° 47' 3". 

 The New church of the Cape, situated nearly in the middle of the town, may 

 be about 20" or 25* more southward than their observatory, whence its latitude 

 19° 46' 40" N. 



As to the longitude, they had no other way but to take with a quadrant some 

 altitudes of the moon's lower limb : 

 Mr. P.'s were these : 



These altitudes taken with a quadrant of 

 2 French feet radius, l' 6" must be added 

 to each, to correct the error of the 

 quadrant. 



■ M 



