Daily American telegraph., 1852-01-02
PREDICTION OF THE FIRST ECLIPSE.
BY PROF. O. MITCHELL,


BY PROF. 0. MITCHELL.
TO those who have given but little attention
to the subject even in our own day. with all
the aids Of modern science, the prediction of
an eclipse seems sufficiently mysterious and
uninteligible. How, then it was possible,
thousands of years ago to accomplish this
same great object, without any just views of
the structure of the system, seems utterly in
credible Follow me, then, while attempt to
reveal the reasoning which led to the predic-
ton of the first eclipse of the sun, the most
daring prophecy ever made by human genius.
Follow, in imagination, this bold interrogation
OF the skies to his solitary mountain summit
Withdrawn from the world-surrounded by his
mysterious circles, there to watch and ponder
through the long nights of many, many years
But hope cheers him on, and smooths his
rugged pathway. Dark and deep as is the
problem, he sternly grapples with it, and re-
solves never to give over till victory crowns his
efforts a.4n..- s-----.
| He has already remarked that the moons
| track in the heavens crossed the SUMS, and
that this point of crossing was in some way
Immediately connected with the coming Of the
dread eclipse. He determines to watch and
learn whether the point of crossing was fixed
or whether the moon in each successive revolu.
/
| If the sun in his annual revolution could leave
behind him track of fire, marking his journey
among the stars, it is found that this same
track was followed from year to year, and from
century to century, with undertaking precision.
But it was soon discovered that it was far
different with the moon. In case she too,
could leave behind her a silver thread of light,
sweeping round the heavens in completing one
revolution this thread would not ioin but would
wind around among the stars in each rcyolu-
ton, crossing the suns fiery track at point
west of the previous crossing. These points of
crossing were called the moons nodes. At
each revolution, the node occurred further
west, until, after cycle of about nineteen
years, it had circulated in the same direction
entirely around the ecliptic Long and patient
ly did the astronomer watch and wait; each
eclipse is duly observed, and its attendant cir
cumstances are recorded, when, at last the
darkness begins to give way, and a ray of light
breaks upon his mind. He finds that no
eclipse OF the sun ever occurs, unless the new
moon IS in the act of crossing the suns track.
Here was grand discovery. He holds the
key which he believes will unlock the dread
mystery and now, with redoubled energy he
resolves to thrust it into the wards and drive
back the bolts.
sweep forward from new moon to new moon,
until he finds some new moon which should
occur while the moon was in the act Of crossing
from one side to the other of the suns track
This certainly was invisible He knew the exact
period from new moon to new moon, and from
one crossing of the ecliptic to another With
eager eyes he seizes the moons places in the
heavens and her age, and rapidly computes
where she crosses at her next change. He finds
the new moon occurring far fromthe suns track
he looks around another revolution the place
of the new moon falls closer to the SUMS path,
and the next year closes until, reaching for
ward with piercing intellectual vigor, he at
last finds new moon which occurs precisely
at the computed time Of the passage across the
suns track Here he makes stand, and on
the day of the occurrence of that new moon,
he announces to the startled inhabitants of the
world, that the sun shall expire in dark eclipse
Bold prediction Mysterious prophet With
what scorn must the unthinking world have
received this solemn declaration? How slow
ly do the moons roll away, and with what in
tense anxiety does the stern philosopher await
the coming of that day which should crown
him with victory, or dash him to the ground
in ruin or disgrace! Time to him moves on
leaden wings day after day, and, at last hour
after hour, roll heavily. The last night is
gone--the moon has disappeared from his
eager gaze, in her approach to the sun, and the
dawn of the eventful day breaks in beauty on
the slumbering world.
This daring man, stern in his faith, climbs
alone to his rocky home, and greets the sun,
as he rises and mounts the heavens, scattering
brightness and glory in his path. Beneath
him is spread out the populous city already
teemng with life and activity The busy
morning hum rises on the still air, and reach
es the watching place of the solitary astron.
omer. The thousands below him, unconscious
of his intense anxiety, Joyously pursue theiI
The sun slowly climbs the heavens round ant
bright, and full-orbed.
The lone tenant Of the mountain, too, almos
begins to wayer in the sternness Of his faith, q