Glasgow weekly times. (Glasgow, Mo.) 1848-1861, 1854-05-18
From the New York Evening Post.
The Approaching Annular Eclipse.

On the 18th inst, there will be an eclipse
of the sun, which will deserve TO be remem.
bered here as one of the most remarkable of
this century.
Because the moon happens at this time of
the month 10 appear smaller than the sun, 1t
will no where cover the sun, but in the most
favorable positions narrow ring of light
will be seen.
The places where this ring can be seen
are in tract from ITO TO 1870 miles in
teadth, the middle of which passes through
Portsmouth, N. H., coming from the north
west across the southern part of New Hamp-
shire, the middle part Of Vermont, the north
ern part of this State and West Canada. In
the middle of this tract the ring will be per-
feet, and about thirtieth part Of the suns
diameter in breadth.
Both the beginning and the end of the
eclipse will be visible throughout the whole
Of the Uuited States, and observations of
them will be of great use for the determine
ton of longitudes.
The shadow Of the moon coming across
the Pacific first reaches the coast OF Calior-
MIA, near San Francisco, at about half past
two In the afternoon, by Washington time,
or at about half-past eleven in the morning,
by the time of San Francisco; and in two
hours will have covered nearly the whole
continent of North America, with IFS south
crn limit in the southern part of Mexico,
and lis northern limit beyond the northern
POLE.
1t will continue on the whole Of the Uni
ted States nearly an hour and half, when
Grst ho Do V,,ill
from the whole country in less than fifty
minutes.
The eclipse will begin in this city about
sixteen minutes past four in the afternoon,
and end about thirty-eigit minutes past six;
the moon will cover from Ten to eleven
twelfths Of the suns diameter.
The effect OF an annular eclipse Oh the
earth ard sky is less striking than that Of
total eclipses, which are described by those
who have seen them as presenting an awful
aspect during the short time that total dark
ness lasts. The advance OF the total shadow
around the horizon can be seen from all
eminence, and as it comes on it plunges the
regions in It's path into appalling darkness.
while gloom hangs over the rest Of the
country.
But the appearances Of the earth and the
sky during annular eclipse, though worthy
of more notice than is often given, are not
the principal features, unless the day be
cloudy. The formation of the ring will be,
where it can be seen, the great attraction of
the occasion, and will, probably, injure the
eyes of many admirers. Opticians say their
business is never more fourishing than after
a solar eclipse.
1t appears, in short notice of this eclipse
by the Boston Journal, that it will be seen in
the morning, and the editor recommends
early rising TO his readers.
This mistake, probably, arose from con-
founding astronomical time, which is reck-
oned from noon and dnight-thus A. NJ.
is called l6 o'clock.
1t is, probably, not unknown 10 many Of
our readers, that in a period Of about eigh.
teen years, called the Chaldean period, or
the lunar cycle, eclipses go throug an order
of performances, which are repeated, with
but slight variations, again and again; but
that in the course Of time these variations
amount to great changes, SO that from time
TO time some old eclipse will be dropped
out, and some new one taken UP in the
eighteen year programme. This subject is
finely discussed in Ferguson's astronomy,
and history of the returns of the coming
eclipse is given as an example.
The approaching eclipse first appeared
on the list about the thirteenth century, and
will continue TO return till about a thousand
years after IFS first appearance, when, having
gradually passed off the earth, the shadow,
at the corresponding returns OF new moon
will continue for more than Ten thousand
years, to sweep by the earth without touch
ing it, and then will again return TO entertain
or terrily perhaps new race OF men.