OCR Text |
Show The Transit of Mercury, The French astronomer, M. AndriS, appointed with hia oolleague, M. Angot, by the minister of public instructions in-structions in France to observe in this oountry the transit of Mercury on May 6th next, haa baen fjr several days in this city, but left yesterday for Ogdeu, Utah, which the national observatory and the superintendent of the coast survey have recommended as a suitable place for accurate observations obser-vations of the transit. This Freuch expedition is of unusual interest. MM. Andre and Angot observed the transit of Venus in 1875 and were surprised at the moment of contact at having the accuracy of their observations ob-servations interfered with by the appearance ol a dark ligament connecting con-necting the two bodies and obscuring the exact circular lines of the two diaks. They have theoretically ex- uminail Ihn nKnnnmannn nH k amined the phenomenon, and, by using electrical lights to make an artificial transit, have arrived at an explanation thereof which they will endeavor to verify by their observations observa-tions of the transit of Mercury. It is important to have (he phenomenon explained, so that it may be allowed for Bhould it be repeated at the transit of Venus in 1882 and in the interest of an accurate calculation of the earth's solar distance, as well as of increased knowledge of the atmospherical atmos-pherical conditions, of the planets and the sun. Ogden, by its pure air, is 1 particularly fitted for such an observation, ob-servation, and the observers will have immediate telegraphic connection with the national observatory. New York Times, 25lh. |