Vermont watchman and State journal. [volume] (Montpelier, Vt.) 1836-1883, 1854-05-19
hnpular Eclipse of the Sun.

AnDular ECLIPSE Vi INC SNh'
The Temperance STANDARD gives the fol-
lowing interesting article on the eclipse
which will occur on Friday next
Eclipses of the sun and Moon, but more /
particularly those Of the Sun, are among the
most interesting and imposing phenomena
of the heavens, and have been attentvely
studied aad observed from the earliest ages
of antiquity. Among barbarous nations,
even al the present day, where the light oil /
science has not yet dawned, they are ever
regarded with fear and terror, ms being har-
bincers of evil or visible manifestations OF
the wrath of an offended Deity. But by the
astronomer. and all admirers OF the sublime
and beautiful in Nature, they are viewed
with the highest interest, not only as verify
inc the truth of their calculations, but as
contributing TO establish beyond doubt the
certainty of the discovery Of some of those
unerring laws by which the universe Is gov
erned. -,
The great solar Eclipse of May Goth, OF
tho nresent wear. will be one of the most
Grand of the present century, being central
and annular throughout the whole extent OF
the northern part Of the United states, and
visible from nearly the whole Of North Amer
lea. :
The line of Central and Annular Phase of
This Eclipse first touches the Earth, and the
central Eclipse begins, May Goth, Oh 5m
evening". in Latitude , d, 43 min North,
Longitude 40 -. 6m. West, which Is IN the
Pacific Ocean westerly Of the Mulgrave Is
lands and moving in a northeaslerly direc-
ton, passes northerly of the Sandwich Is
lands, and touches the continent IN wash
ington Territory, north of the mouth OF the
Columbia River. Bending its course east
erlv. II passes along the northerly line OF the
United States, crosses Lake Superior, ana
taking a southeasterly direction, crosses
Canada West, the northern part Of the state
of New York, and Lake Champlain, touches
the State of Vermont in the northwesterly
part of Addison County. Continuing It's
course southeasterly, it passes through mat
county, and along the northcrly line oil
Windsor County, the State of New llamp-
shire, and terminates in the Atlantic Ocean,
in Latitude 80 :. Ia min. North, Longitude
% > IT.. 10 min East of Washington Observa-
tory. May 26th, 5h. 10m. evening, Mean
Time at Woodstock, Vt.
The approximate time of the beginning OF
the Eclipse, as seen from Woodstock, Is 4h'
I'm. evening.
AT the time of the middle Of the Eclipse
to an observer situated at any place over
which the central line passes, there VIII De
seen, encrcling the Moon, bright clearly
Defined luminous ring, IN width about l-3oth
of the Suns diameter, or nearly IN ratio oil
inch TO a circle of 3 feet. The uniformity
in the width of the ring will be affected by
the nearness of the observer to those places
over which the central line passes; the more
perfect ring being seen from places nearest
that line. At Woodstock the broader por-
ton of the ring will be on the southern or
southwestern side Of the Suns disc.
There is a beautiful law that regulates tue
return Of the same Eclipse at certoln peri
DDS slight investigation Of which may not
be wholly undressing. 1t IS found by OBJ
servation, that 223 synodical revolutions OF
the Moon are performed IN very nearly the
same time as 10 synodcal revolutions OF the
Node, the former occupying 65o5,33 days,
and the latter 65oir7S days. Consequently
the Moons node occupies very nearly the
same position at the beginning and end OF
this period of 22.} lunations and recur-
renee OF all the Eclpses within this interval
must take place. If then, to the time OF the
middle of any Eclipse we add II years and
IL days, having regard to the intercalary
/ DAYS added for Leap Years, it will give very
nearly the tine of the next return Of the
/ same Eclipse. Applying this rule to the
great Eclipse Of MAY both, of the present
yea1. il will be seen TINT the same
| Eclipse occurred on the 23d Of April, 100,
/ on the 9Th of May, 1913, and on the l5usof
/ May, 1896. 1t will also occur again on the
/ 9Th of June, 1872 and on the 18th OF June,
] l,., k, xftathln "A tho
places on the earth.
There are but few of all the Eclipses of
/ the Sun, that occur in any series OF years,
/ that are visible at any one place, and but
/ little more than one-half of those Of the
| Moon. From the year 1900 TO the year
1853 inclusive, there were 2i9 Eclipses
l32 of the sun, and 81 Of the Moon. Oi
these, only 10 of the Sun and 50 of the Moon
we're visible in New England.
The next large Eclipse OF the sun, y'sl-
bic in Vermont, viii occur on the 2lth OF
September, 1878, and will be Central and
Annular in New York, Vermont, New
Hampshire, Massachusetts, and Maine
Previous 10 that time, there will be no large
Solar Eclipse visible in this part of tho
United States.
Beginning of the Eclipse at Montpelier
4h. I'm. p. information Of the ring 5.3C
rupture of the ring 53l--duranon Of tho
ring. fraction less than 3 minutes END oil
the eclipse 6il-duration 2.2i We ado
the following paragraphs from pamphlet
published by the American Academy.
As sixty-three years have passed since
the occurrence of the last annular eclipse
in New England, and as IN the last forty slS
wears of the present century only one more
will take place, il is not doubted that the
one of NAV Doth will be viewed with inter
est by every spectator; but 1t is hoped that
those observers within the limits Of The
ring NEARLY the whole of Vermont Is il
the limits OF the ring) who may be provided
with good telescope, will give particular
attention TO the singular appearances which
so often have been noticed at the secone
and third contacts, and whlchin consequence
of having been infinitely described by MIR
Bailly, are known by his name, especially
as there is some reason for the suspicion
that these beads, &c, may be seen or not
at the pleasure of the observer, according AZ
he employs a screen colored red or green.
In the eclipse Of February II, 1881, which
was viewed by the writer at the lighthouse
I on MOlpNNol 0iiitf pi (bhtilNAlf WIN Il ifA
screen. these beads WERE Just before the
formation of the ring, so very conspicuous
that 1t was difficult to determine with precis-
ion when ii actually took place, whilst IN
that which was annular in Washington il
September, 1898, and that which was tota
near Savannah in November, 1884, these
appearances could not be perceived by him
although carefully looked for through q
screen composed Of two glasses, one shaded
light req, the other light green.
Indeed, it is particularly desirable that al
some places there will be two observer:
furnished with telescopes of nearly the same
optical power but with screens coloret
green and red, who, after the second con
tact, shall exchange their instruments fol
their observations on the third and shall
note carefully the appearances and phen
omena by which each contact is attended"
Railroad .locideni.-On Saturday after