172 J. Lovering on Velocity of Light and the Sun's Distance. 
tracted popular attention to an old difficulty, and possibly given 
a solution toit. The three astronomical metho ese la 
distances, which, even if we select the most trustworthy decision 
tions, and especially improvements in the lunar tables, have 
now carried that difference up to four millions of m iles. If 
Foucault's experiment were allowed to give the casting vote, it 
would decide in favor of the third method; thus making t the 
Sonia al Laplace, which I have already ‘quoted, still more 
ore 
In regard to the commonly received distance of the sun, which 
is based upon Encke’s profound discussion of all the observa: 
tions made at the last two transits of Venus, the case stan 
thus. Encke decides, from ue weights of the observations, dis- 
be a lingering nucer ena, to the extent of three or four millions 
of miles, in the sun’s distance from the earth, But the error, — 
whatever va is, is propagated from the esas system into the 
deepest s s which the telescope has ever trave 
sun’s ec. | is the measuring rod with which the astronomer. 
metes out the distances of the 1 fixed stars and the dimensions of 
