Herald of the times. [volume] (Newport, R.I.) 1830-1846, 1833-12-26
From the american almanac, for 1884.
GREAT ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.


GREAT ECLIPSE OF THE SUN.
The most remarkabl of the phenome-
ma that this year, (l834) will happen, is
the eclipse of the Sun, on Sunday, the
thirteenth Of November. This is the third
OF the very uncommon series Of five large
eclipses, visible to US, in the short term
Of seven years; the fourth Of this series
will take place May 18th, 1886, and the
last September 18th, 1888.
The eclipse Of the present year will
doubtless receive great atte alton through
ou, our country. I'm those places where
its magnitude will not exceed eleven di-
gifts, much diminution Of the light is not
to be expected, even at the time of the
greatest obscuration; perhaps, however,
it may be sufficient to render visible the
planet Venus, then about 80 degrees f..
S. +. Of the Sun, and much nearer the
Earth than usual; nor will the obscura-
ton be very great where the eclipse is
almost total; since it has been observed
on former occasions, that the uneclipsed
part, even when reduced to mere
point, sheds sufficient light to render
snail objects distinctly visible, and in
visible the brightest Of the stars. In
deed, on account of the reiraction Of the
Suns rays by the atmosphere Of the
Earth, the darkness can hardly with
strictness be considered total, even
where the Sun is completely shut out
from the sight. In the great and re-
markable eclipse Of June 10th, 1906,
when the Sun was totally obscured al
Boston, for five minutes, as much light
remained as is given by the moon when
full; and greater darkness will not prob
ably be experienced, in any place, on
the present occasion.
Il Throughout the United States, how
ever, great depression ofthe thermom-
eter, if placed in the Sun, will prob ably
be noticed; and, for some minutes be-
fore and after the moment Of greatest
observation, the power Of lens TO pro-
duce combustion,b by condensing the solar
rays, will be quite, if not entirely de.
stroyed. AT the time Of the Annula
eclipse Of February 10Th, 1891, it wa
observed by the editor, that the ther
mometer in the Sun, fell from 72 to 90
and that during the continuance Of the
ring, no sensible effect was produced by
placing its blackened bulb in the foe us o
a powerful burning glass.
/ This Eclipse, as will be seen on trac
ing the path of the centre, will be tota
in small part of the Territory Of Ar
kansas, and of the state of Mississippi
, Alabama, Georgia and South Carolina
The principal places, in which the ob
I, security will probably be complete, ART
: Charleston, Beaufort, S. c., Savannah
Milledgeville, Tuscaloosa, and Littl,
!, Rock. The greatest duration Of tota
darkness in any place, will be about I'm
56s.; at Tuscaloosa, il will be about I'm
53s., and at Beaufort, I'm. 46.; thes
places lying very near the central patti
At Charleston and Savannah, the durt
IS ton will be considerably less, the forme
- being situate about foay miles north {
= this path, the latter about thirty SOUTH
=" The width Of the line Of total darknes
!. varies in its passage across the Earth
y but in the United States will be abou
one hundred miles. Those Of the inha
;. bitants Of the Atlantic States, who desir
: to behold this rare spectaclc-the mo.
=. VI tuC puCuOI
:, :, ena of nature, compared with which e,
:. en- Niagara sinks into mediocrity--wi
find Beaufort the most eligible place
which to make their observations, ar
% they will not neglect this opportuni
g when they reflect that the moons sha
= ow will not again, for the space Of thir
. five years, pass over any part Of the j
: habitable portions Of the United State
=. ' or until August 7th, 1860.
v, AT the time Of the eclipse Of Febru
" ry, 1881, much inconvenience and ev
:. injury was sustained from want Of ca
~ in looking at the Sun without any pr
- - lection for the eye, or through glass I
-. =" sufficiently colored, it may be proper
J. remark, that should the sky, during I
90 continuance of the eclipse, be clear, o
:. 80 Of the very darkest green or red glas:
- Of sextant, and in default Of this,
:, piece Of common window glass, r.
,n' from veins, and rendered quite black
my ny the smoke Of lamp, only, can be us
e, with safety. If The lustre of The S
oo. should be diminished by interveni
ptv clouds, lighter shade will be suflicie