The Sun.
London, England, 1860-07-14 00:00:00

PRICE 4D. STAMPED, 5D

TUE ECLIPSE ON WEDNESDAY NEXT.

The following popular remarks, says Mr. J.
R. Hind, bearing upon the eclipse of the sun on
Wednesday next, will no doubt be found acceptable.
The line of central and total eclipse commences
on the earth on the western coast of North America,
in longitude 125 deg. 42 min. N., not far from the
mouth of the Columbia River, in the Oregon terri-
tory. Its course is thence over the Rocky
Mountains, near Cumberland-house, and south of
York Factory, in the Hudson Bay district, where
I understand preparations have been made for
observing the phenomenon, as also at Cape Chud-
leigh in Labrador, which is near the central line.
The American Government have provided for the
proper observation of the eclipse at this point.
From Cape Chudleigh the course of the central
eclipse is across the Atlantic in a south-easterly
direction, and it will first strike the shores of Europe
about 45 miles west of Santander, in Spain, cross-
ing that country in the direction of Oropesa, near
which place it launches into the Mediterranean,
and passing over Ivica enters Algeria in a longi-
tude of 4 deg. 20 min. east of Greenwich. It leaves
the earth near Massowa, on the Red Sea, in longi-
tude 39 deg. 25 min. E. and latitude 15 deg,
56 min. N.

On the whole of this line the eclipse will be total,
and the duration of totality, when greatest, will
be four minutes.

In this country the eclipse will be large, but will
not approximate to totality. In the metropolis
about 82-100ths of the sun's diameter will be
obscured-4 magnitude which is hardly great
enough to bring out any of the characteristics of
large eclipses beyond the yellowish tinge tlirown
over the landscape as sunlight wanes. An excellent
opportunity, however, will be afforded to the un-
profeeaional observer of judging of the degree of
accuracy with which such phenomena can now be
prcidieted.

- In London the moon will come into contact with
the sun, or the eclipse will begin, at Ih. 39m. p.m.,
a little below the sun's centre, on the right hand.
The greatest eclipse will take place at 2h. 49m.
p.m., when 82-100ths of the diameter will be
covered. Nothing like darkness or even obscurity
can, however, be expected at this time, 18-100ths
being too large a portion of the sun still visible to
allow of a very sensible diminution of daylight. At
2h. 49m. p.m. the sun will appear as a crescent,
with the convexity towards the zenith. A dark
glass will serve as well as the telescope to exhibit
this, the most interesting feature of the eclipse in
England. The moon will finally separate from the
sun, or the eclipse will end, at 3h. 54m, p.m., a
little north of the centre, on the left hand.

ROYAL COLOSSEUM.—As the Astronomer Royal
I and the servants of this country are actively en-
gaged in making preparations for viewing the forth-
coming total eclipse of the sun, in those parts of
Spain over which the central shadow-line will pass,
Dr.Bachhoffner, with his usual promptitude is doing
good service at home by familiarising the minds of
his numerous auditors at the Colosseum with the
causes and effects attending this interesting pheno-
menon. The simple and unaffected conversational
manner so characteristic of Dr. Bachhoffner's style
of lecturing tells with admirable effect in his illus-
tratioas of this somewhat abstruse subject; in fact,
the whole matter is so given that not only all who
run may read, but may, at the same time, perfectly
understand what they do read--a result not always
obtained in these express-speed times. As a great
solar eclipse is comparatively a rare occurrence,
we strongly advise our readers to go and hear the
Doctor's discourse, illustrated as it is by numerous
beautiful diagrams, avid so become familiar with
the phenomena to be seen in London on the 18th of
the present month.