A little ramble through 19th century astronomy - determinbation of longitude by star occultation in 1874

 Nature 5^th February 1874

 

Astronomische Nachrichten No. 1970 January 14^th 1874, contains the following papers:- On the determination of longitude by star occultation and telegraphically determined longitude between Madras, Singapore and Batavia, by Dr Oudemans. The author mentions his observations in 1859 as giving a longitude fir Batavia of 7h.7m.12.5”, also others in later years giving rather a less result. 

In 1870-71, however the telegraphic communications with Singapore was used, giving a mean result of 11m. 40.895s longitude from that place. The same author gives a note on Kaiser’s original proof of Foucault’s pendulum researches. It is too long to give in full here, but appears simple and good. 

Prof Oudemans has also two other papers on position observation made during the eclipse of December 1871 at Java, and on the spheroidal form of the Earth, which consists chiefly of equations and tables which we have not space to introduce. 

Dr Holetschek gives ephemerides of a number of minor planets.

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