Rensselaer Union, Volume 11, Number 19, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 23 January 1879 — A Singular Transit [ARTICLE]

A Singular Transit

Astronomers are not always content with predicting transits of the inferior planets visible on the earth. At the last meeting of the Royal Astronomical Society, London, Mr. Marth called at* tention to a phenomenon occurring this year, which, though it could not be seen here, possesses perhaps at least as much interest to astronomers as a total eclipse of the sun, visible only near one of the poles. The phenomenon in question would only be seen by astronomers on. the planet Mani' On Nov, 12, 1879, about two minutes before 2h., Greenwich mean time, a small black body would make its appearance on the south following side of the disc of the sun; in six minutes it would Jiave fully entered upon the disc, and would proceed slowly from left to right in a direction little inclined to the ecliptic of Mare. About a quarter past 4h. an* other and bigger black body would encroaoh upon the disc, and would occupy twenty-one minutes before it had fully entered upon it These two bodies were the moon and the earth, and they would be visible from all parte of planets where the sun was above the nonzon. But observers placed along a certain zone or track would have the opportunity of seeing a third and apSarently bigger body across the sun’s isc. it was at present somewhat uncertain at what time this third body would make its appearance, probably about a quarter to 4h,, while the moon was yet alone on the sun’s disc.’ This third body would come from the right hand side, in a direction at a slant of about 20 deg. from the south; at which point it would touch depended on the station, but Marital observers would have to be very quick to observe all the contacts, since the time- tor "doing so would be limited at besi to some twenty or thirty seconds. This third body was Phobos, the inner satellite! but observ*. Pre on Mars would be far more inter- ' ested in the transit of the earth and moon than in that of Phobos, since in the course of a Martial year there were no less than about 1,388 transits of Phobos, across the sun visible f rom some

part dr other of the planet, while the number of transit* of uelmaa was about 133. On the other hand, tnpeits.pf the earth and moon were rare occurrences, the last one having taken place iff the year 1800, while the next to follow would happen In 1906. About a quarter to 10, the moon, wlfldh meanwhile had apparently drawn nearer to the earth, would quit the sun’s disc, and the last external contact of the earth with the •disc would take place at Greenwich midnight. But before external contact.. about half-past llh., I’hobof would again cross the sun’s disc for pertain stations; after having tneanwMle petturned a whole Revolution artftmd the p. fallQwiiur painful story is ijsported from the village of St. Antoine Do Tilly, In Canada. A middle aged baniwloref the place, named Maxims La Bortfl, who lived alone and led an exemplary life, not having been seep about for some days* the ne'ghbora broke in the door of his houap, at terrible spflctacje meeting their gave. La Borte sat in his chair, life having evidently left him several days before, flesh of.hfii face and other portions of his body had been almost entirely ghawed on by two cats, which had been, confined in the house, and found means of appeasing their,|iim“Oh dear; I meant to mend your glove,”' said Mrs. Jones, as Jones drew On a glove without any ends to the fingers, on a co|d morning.. And Jonqsi who had no), recovered from the lodge meeting the night-before, ssld;~** r *(Fjoept the ’mend-meant.” — Y. Mail.