By the 19th century, scientific apparatus had improved in accuracy, while better ship design and navigational technology allowed easier travel. For the Transit of Venus due to occur in 1874, George Biddell Airy at the Royal Observatory organised and equipped five expeditions to different parts of the world. These were to re-observe the Transit of Venus and improve upon the observations made by Cook and his team. The 1874 transit of Venus was the first to be photographed.
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 Countries from which the Royal Observatory astronomers viewed the 1874 Transit of Venus. © NMM |
Before the five expeditions set out, the apparatus and portable observatories were assembled and checked in Greenwich Park.
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