O. H. Landreth—Transit of Venus. 431 
Point of observation, about 200 feet west of Vanderbilt 
Observatory telescope. Five-inch Byrne refractor mounted as 
a simple equatorial, with tangent screw motion in R. A. Mag- 
nifying power for contacts 178, used with wedge-shaped sun 
rism. Time obtained from the observatory by means of a 
telegraphic sounder beside the observer, and in circuit with the 
observatory Dent sidereal clock. Several minutes before and 
after calculated contacts, the minutes and intervening ten 
seconds were called from the observatory. 
First. contact lost in dense clouds. 
Second contact uncertain, the sun being glimpsed for a 
moment; Venus seen, I am confident, at or very close upon 
tse this time is noted as II. Clouds until afternoon. 
re tange 
the black drop, and probably a little lat 
I think this observation can be relied on as being very close. 
Full aperture was used at second contact without any sun- 
shade, The other observations were with aperture reduced 
to 4$ inches. 
