The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1851-07-28
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the last occurred In 1906 which is well recolectsl
by many persons, while the next willno occur until
1869 A complete annular eclipse win 90 seen ia q
part of the United States in May, lS5t
The utility Of eclipses is much greater than v
generally supposed by the public. The concurrence
of the predicted and actual times ftheir ommence-
ment and termination, affords most accurate proof
of the correctness Of the theories by which they
were predicted. The comparison Of recent with
sncient eclpsss has proved hat there has Sesn an
acceleration of the moons mean motion. The
observation of eciipses. (more especially those OF
the moop,) is means, and one frequently ut-d, OF
determining the longitudes Of places.
Chronology has derived very greSs asssssense
historians, many events are recorded ~ having
happened about Il tne when certsia sciipses Of
tae sun ana moon occurred BY nesns o. as
,1,'CE%y, Inc time Of the occurrence Of ssy s"pss
thus, H. OF any event, 1t il recorded that IL hap
Pensd a. serain time before or rfter an eclipse
o. wsisa an approximate tune is given, ts. true
Instances might here be given-but two viii ~
sufficient.
In the writings of Josephus il is stased ,A.s On
the night succeeding the death Of Heroa. there wa
eclipse Of the moon. The record of this event.
(Which is the only mentioned by ephus, is
any of his writing, is of the greatest 5np.raoos
since it determines the time of she death OF herod
and Of the birth Of Jesus Christ.
Again, IN the History Of Herodous, record il
made Of an eclipse the sun, which occurred dur
ing DAttle between the Lyulans ana Meuee. -
day suddenly changed into night; the terrified
armies ceased from their contest aad made peace.
Herodoius does not record the date OF this event,
except in mentioning that it was in the sixth year
OF the war between the nations Astronomy IA thus
called upon 10 deterIsine the exact time Of Thu
event. This tys4, is rendered to some extent more
difficult, since Ilerodotus did record the place
part Of the country where the armies
tending Hence. a might be supposed, dfereat
computers Of the event nave been led 10 entertaia
different opinions o. its exact tune aud place. How
ever the learned Mr, Baily has concfasively show
that eclipse which could cause SO great dark
must have been total; and hence II is required
TO determine at what time total solar ecipses
CURED in that region. According to his 0alcaia-
tons this eclipse took pace, september S)th, g. o.,
90.
During the great eclpses which took place ia
$50 and 1872, tbe former being aun,uar, and the
latter tota) several peculiar ana wonderful phens-
Dena were observed.
Mr. Francis Baiiy describes his observations Il
them follows .-iSsi-'' " hen the cusps Of 80
sun were about M asunder, n row Of 'uoia
points, like a string Of bright bcads, formed round
that part of the circumference Of the neon that
about to enter on the sun's disc My surprise
great Gu finding that these luminous points, As we'd
rs the dark intervening spaces increased in y,,i
tude, contiguous ones appearing TO ron into eash
other like drops Of water; for the rapidly Cg tns
charge was SO great. and the singGarity of Tho ap
pearsnce so fascinating and attractive, thas s6e
mind was Tor the moment distracted and lost in she
ccntem piation of the scene
FINALLY, a. The moon pursued her course, these
dark intervening spaces were stretched oct int
long, black thick parallel lives, joining the limbs Of
the sun and moon; when all al once they sudie olx
gave way aud left the circumference Of the
and noon in those points, as ia the rest, compare
lively snctth and circular, and the moon pe-cep-
tibly advanced on the face Of the sun.
1.-The moon preserved its usual circular outline,
during its progress across the suns disc, until ito
opposite limb again approached the border OF I'm
sun. When, all ut once (she bmb OF the ucvr
being at some distance from the edge OF the ssnl,
number Of icng black, thick parallel lines. ex-
actly similar IN appearance to tnose before aea-
toned, suddenly darted forward from the moon.
aud joined the two limbs before. and the
phenomena were thus repeated, bot an an inverse
order"
In the total eclipse OF 1872, Mr.. Baby says that
lie, at fret, - looked out very narrowly for ths
black lines which IN the annular eclipse
of $50, rs they would probably precede the ssring
OF beads. These lines, however, were not seen br
me.
"but the beads were distinctly visible; and, En-
their iiIst appearance, had noted down the time
Of Il y thermometer, and was IN the act Of ooun<-
ing the Sc on,s, in oraer t. ascertain the exaot
time OF tLcir duration, when l was astOunded BY
n tremendous burst Of applause froIa the streets
below, aud. at the same moment, was electrified by
the sigh; Of Que Of the most brilliant ard splendid
phenomena that can well De imagined. For. 1T
that instant. the dark body Of the sud
denly surrounded with a corona, or kind Of
bright glory, SIMILAR in share and relative MAGGIE
tuale L. that which painters draw around the hescs
Of saints, and which, by the French is designated
IN GpTt.}e.
" Pa,ia contains many thousand inhabitants, the
greater Part "a vhOm were, at this early hour
walking about the streets and squares in order to
witness this long talked Il llhenc mona; and, when
the total c0scurltion took place, which instan-
taneous, there vas universal shout from the Oh
S,ryers, which " mace the we.6in ring, and. Toe
the momert, withdrew ny attention from the OBJ
jet with which was Immediately employed
al had, Indeed, ant cil acd the appearance OF atu-
minous circle round the moon during the timo II
total obscurty. but lid not expect from any u
the accoun,s Of previous cohpse that had read, to
witness 80 magnificent an exhibition took plsoe.
" was .uTrriscd and astoni,hei at tho srlendik
which now suddenly burst upon iuy view
IL riyeted my attention 20 Cgtctually that J qritc
lost sight Of the string Of beads, which, bowsyer.
not completely closed when this phonomcno
FIRST appeared splendid az It. appearance really
was, % thc same Llae theTe some ing aI-
pelling in IT. charactcr; aud can readily imsyUs
that uncit.lisCd La,.oL. may have become alAsm.f
ard terrified 1T such object.
lat arotbIr remarkable ILcnomenOn was 1os
exhibited Suddenly from The border Of he moos~
there hurft forth az three different poi8ts purple
lille Gsrcs, visible 20 eyoty yc. situated vitsss
the ccroua before mentioned.
Appearance similar 20 these were seen at 9th q
places Ia the eclipse Of the present aonth, Oh
server H. Europe, where the eclipse is total vii d.
rect special attention TO it, observation Ia order -
note the Ihohonona which mag occur.
The Mails.
~ ng rur