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Transit of Mercury, November 8th, 1881. 
By H.-C. Russett, B.A., F.R.A.S., Government Astronomer. 
[Read before the Royal Society of N.S. W., 7 December, 1881.] 
A Transit of Mercury is not of so much value for determining the 
sun’s distance as atransit of Venus, nevertheless observations of 
g 
moment when the limbs of the sun and planet make contact ; for 
the long interval between the transits of Venus render practice 
observer may have the chance of seeing several f th 
inner planet, thus gaining by experience the knowledge 
required for the observation of Venus in tra this is not 
one looked for the white spot and halo, and almost every one Saw 
tthe halo peak of it as 
lo brighter than the sun, but many § oO 
- Mr, Proctor saw it asa narrow bright ring, a mere thread; 
