Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1854-05-17
The approaching Eclipse.

The eclipse Of the Sun which occurs on
the Goth of this month will be annuIar,-
that is, the moon at the time of its transit
ton appearing smaller than the sun, it will
not entirely cover it, but leave, even at the
moment OF its greatest eclipse, narrow
ring OF hight. Both the beginning and the
end oil the eclipse will be visible in all parts
of the United States. The New York Post
furnishes some particulars that will be read
with interest in view of the near approach
OF the phenomenon
The shadow Of the moon coming across
The Pacific first reaches the coast of Cali
iolnia. 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
aud in two hours will have covered nearly
the whole continent Of North America, with
It's southern limit in The southern part of
Mexico, and its northern limit beyond the
northern pole.
1t will continue on the whole of the Uni
ted States nearl y an hour and ball, when,
first ending on the Pacific coast it will pass
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-eigbt minutes past
six in Baltimore it will commence and
end a few minutes earlier it will cover
from ten 10 eleven-twelfths of the suns d.
ameter.
The effect of an annular eclipse on the
earth s. sky is less striking than that of total
eclipses, which are described by those who
have seen them as presenting an awful as
pect during the short time that total dark
ness lasts. The advance of the total shad.
ow around the horizon can be seen from
an eminence, and as il comes on it pnnges
the regions in its path into appalling dark
ness, while gloom hangs over the rest Of
the country.
But the appearance of the earth and sky
during an 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 ofmany admirers. Opticians say
tndt tHeir BUSINESS Is never more H0urlSn-
ing than after solar eclipse.
1t Is, probably, not unknown to many Of
our readers, that in period of about cigb-
teen years, called the Chaldeans period, ,or
the lunar cycle, eclIpses 60 through an
order OF performances, which are repeated.
with but slight variations, again md again;
but that in the course of time these varia-
lions amount to great changes, so that from
time to time some old eclipse will be drop
ped 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 gwen as an example.
The approaching eclipse first appeared on
the list about the thirteenth century, and
will continue to return till about thou
sand years after its first appearance, when
having gradually passed of the earth, the
shadow, at the corresponding ;eturns Of
the new moon, will continue for more
than ten thousand years TO sweep by the
earth without touching it, and then will a.
gain return to entertain or terrify, perhaps,
new race Of men.