The Portland gazette. [volume] (Portland, Me.) 1818-1824, 1824-05-04

The following article az astronomical iutelIf-
gence IL copied from the Boston Cenfinel. under
the presumption that Il was furnished By some
resident az the neighbouring university, and that
it is therefore Of sufficient authority 10 be trusted
as 10 accuracy Of calculation II you please il
may be inserted in your paper, with the remarks
su6joined
Boston. Agril z6fh Ig74
SIR-An OccnltaHon NJ the planet Hrrschel win
take place o. Monday morning, May I7th which
viii be visible throughout the Y. States. The
Phases in mean time for Cambridge in lat a deg
rs min. % sec n. and Ion. n deg. min. Is sec.
w. are As follows;
Time or Elliptic Coujuucti m, ~ 23l-6 .M
Latitude OF the Moon Their 2s m 81 N.
.Geocentnc lat. Of Herschel then % N. 81
Imnersio Of HeScheL - N. > Of Moons
centre % Ia
EMERSON Of Herschel Sc n South OF
kloon's centre 2 az "a
Duration Of tie CIRCULATION 26I-2
This Is an occultation OF planet whose apna-
rent Magnitude i 50 incOnsiderable AZ ~ excite
but little Of common observation, compared
with those Of Jupiter, which have happened
more than once within a few years past, with
out any special observance from professional
star gazers Indeed II is a matter Of no small
discredt to the scientific character Of our coun.
try, that scarcely one Of our colleges or universe
ties, Of whose ample numbers AZ least, we can
boast II not oftheir eminence, hRs been able, for
twenty years past, 10 furnish any tolerable OBJ
servations Of the most remarkable phenomena
that have presented themselves within that pc
Rod, so particularly requiring scientific and
technical description. Even the total eclipse Of
the sun in 1906, an event, combining every pos
sible circumstance that could ever be united 10
exhibit spectacle the most sublime and imr0s-
ing among the varied motions I'D the universe
around Us, was scarcely noticed, BY any such &C.
curate description Of the phenomena attending
It, at the most antieni university Of our country
Several eclipses, OCCUPATIONS, trsnsits and
other astronomical phenomena that were Of
sufficient importance TO elicit a notice both
preceding and subsequent 10 their occur
renee, have, TO the surprise Of many been suffer-
ed quietly % pass, without any satisfactory &C.
counts, from our Colleges at Cambridee Or
Brunswick, whose advantages are such as 60 en-
title an enquiring community 10 better informa-
ton than has heretofore been furnished from
those institutions.
II cannot BE- doubted that many u our Col
leges are furnished with philosophical apparatus
sufficiently extensive for accurate observa-
tons and if there yet exists a deficiency of
talent, skill or industry in the application OF
these means to practical results and for the graf
ihcation of rational curiosity in the various
branches of science, there seems to be no good
reason why reform should BOT be called FOR Nv
those who feel an interest in whatever concerns
the reputation Of America for science and learR
ing, A. well a. in other branches Of National dis
tinctiOn
II may be proper, while on this subject 10 Of.
fer cautionary hint against publishing every as
Economical calculation which may be offered.
without the authority Of a name, since we have
more than once seen portent0us Appearances
announced as about 10 take place which have
not yet happened, and are demOnstrably never
% happen, although they are predicted with tire
air OF mathematical exactness-Of this nature
IS the description Of central eclipse ofthe SIM.
which some time since went the rounds Of our
newspapers, and was required % appear on the
10th Of June next; when the the truth il thar an
eclipse will indeed happen al that tins, sonqr-
where 'tn orbs ityrarum," but 0f very small mag
1itude, being near The sun setting with ". ana
out little more th u q digit IN quantity The
statement was corrected BY few remarks pub
hshed ~ a Portland paper, shortly after he
hrst accounts, but the story in circulation was
too good one 70 be refuied, g. the Sun must ~
leit 70 be obfuscated or not, ~ may seem expe-
dent to the good people Of our planet