Notes on the late Transit of Venus. . 65 



planet appeared of a violet colour from the limb, extending 

 a quarter of its diameter inwards ; colour most dense at the 

 limb of the planet, the centre being almost black. During 

 the whole of the time the planet had a granular appear- 

 ance." 



Observations of the appearance of Venus during the 

 middle phases of the transit, for the purpose of ascertaining 

 if there were any indications of an atmosphere about Venus, 

 and for noting any peculiarity of appearance of the planet's 

 disc, were obtained by most of the observers. No evidence 

 of a satellite was noted by any. Nearly all noticed a blue 

 colour about the outer circumference of the disc of the 

 planet, many of them stating it to be very marked, always 

 blue or indigo. A light shade (by some called grey, by 

 others white) was also clearly seen on the central portion of 

 the disc, some observers stating it was condensed at the 

 centre almost to a nebulous point of light. The Rev. J. 

 Clarke, at Williamstown, observing with a eight and a-half 

 inch Browning Newtonian, describes the appearance of a 

 broivnish halo encircling Venus while traversing the sun's 

 disc. I made a very careful scrutiny, and the blue colour 

 of the outer portions, and hazy light, denser towards the 

 centre of Venus, were very well seen. I also noted a 

 "blurring" or "loss of definition" of the "Rice grain" 

 or "willow leaf" structure of the solar surface immediately 

 around Venus. This blurring was not symmetrical, but 

 projected towards the sun's south limb. Perhaps Mr. 

 Clarke's halo may have some connection with this. 



These are the most noteworthy facts recorded during the 

 observation of the transit. They afford plenty of pabulum 

 for speculation, but I simply place them in their bare form 

 before you, partly with a view to inform you of what was 

 seen, and partly that they may, with any remarks they 

 may elicit, be recorded in our transactions whilst the 

 circumstances are fresh in our memories. 



