430 O. H. Landreth—Transit of Venus. 
Filar Micrometer Measures of Planet's Diameter. 
Polar diamete: 941 (4 observations), mean at 25 25" 68. 
Equatorial ae — sigs 24 (4 observations), mean at 22 34™ 355. 
Remarks on the Observations.—Concerning the phenomena 
-seen at the two recorded instants (a) and (4) my note-book says: 
* “The two recorded times at third contact are those at which 
the narrow band of light between the sun’s limb and planet 
became so narrow and faint as to cause ‘suspicion’ E 
tainty’ of its being only the light around the planet. At 10* 
or 11° after “ in grheee: (a), I glanced to see if tangency had 
yet occurred and found it, as near as I could judge, pete 
‘and again saw it bar etity past just before ‘ waranty past,’ (2), 
which was recorded when the narrow band of light had cer- 
tainly quieted down into a Venus halo.” This closed band otf 
light continued visible for about 20° after (4), and remained as 
an are of 45° from sun’s limb on north side of planet until 
2" 48™. At fourth contact the recorded times (c) and (a) are 
those at which the obliteration of the notch on the sun’s limb 
S 
= 
Qs 
o 
fq*) 
~ 
00" 1° a. M. and at 2" 00" 00° Pp. Mm. Vanderbilt mean time. 
‘Time was taken and recorded for me during the observations 
by J. T. McGill, Ph.D., Fellow and Assistant in Chemistry. 
am also indebted to Assistant Engineer W. B. Boggs, U. 5. N,, 
Instructor in Engineering, for aria a charge of the distribu- 
tion of time signals, as well as to C. L. Thornburg, B.E., Fellow 
and Assistant in searches oo efficient and extended assist- 
ance in the determination of time and instrumental shan 
In order to give Mr. E. E. wd the advantages of t 
observatory time-determination and geographical position, be 
was invited to observe the omen from the observatory 
grounds. This he did, having his time-sounder in electric 
circuit with the observatory eo clock. His results are 
given in his letter appended. I am gratified to be able to state 
tbat Mr. Barnard has since been appointed to a fellowship in 
astronomy in this institution. 
March 30, 1883. 
Transit of Venus, Dec. 5th and 6th, 1882; as observed by Mr. 
E. E, Barnarp. 
Latitude +36° 8’57’-88. Longitude 39™ 0-781» west from Washington. 
The following are Observed Times of Phenomena described, Washington mean time. 
; 3 a. b. rv. 
215 16™ 325 2h 40™ 505 2h 41™ 408 2h 46m 298 ‘gh y= 15°78" 
