Origin of Eight-Year Generating Cycle 89 



is accompanied with a synchronously varying force 

 that could produce the observed meteorological cycles? 



The first question may be answered definitely and 

 positively: there is a cosmical cycle of about eight 

 years that is synchronous with the economic and me- 

 teorological cycles the existence of which has already 

 been estabHshed. 



Perhaps the best way to approach its description is 

 to consider these facts : the maximum visibility of Venus 

 is produced by its greatest phase, its greatest elonga- 

 tion from the sun, and the clearness of our atmosphere, 

 and that maximiun tends to recur at intervals of eight 

 years, ''Venus passe tous les huit ans par ses periodes 

 de plus grand eclat (1889-1897-1905-1913). Elle est 

 alors si brillante qu'elle porte ombre comme un petit 

 clair de lune, et il est facile de s'en assurer soit en se 

 pla^ant dans une piece obscure, soit en marchant devant 

 un mur a la campagne. On peut la distinguer en plein 

 jour, a I'oeil nu, non seulement avant le coucher du 

 soleil, mais a midi meme, lorsque Ton salt ou elle est. 

 Aucune etoile ni aucune planete n'atteint un eclat 

 comparable a celui-la." ^ Here is an eight-year cycle 

 in which the dates of maxima are a little in advance 

 of our economic and meteorological cycle. It is not 

 the cycle that we want, but it is closely related to the 

 one for which we are in search. 



Before passing to a detailed consideration of the 

 Venus cycle a prejudice must be noted and, if possible, 

 removed. In suggesting that the variability in the 

 brilliance of Venus may have some possible relation 

 to terrestrial affairs one is reminded at once of the 



1 Camille Flanunarion, Reves eloiles, pp. 132, 133. 



