Orleans independent standard. [volume] (Irasburgh, Vt.) 1856-1871, 1856-01-25
PREDICTION OF FTHEFIRsT ECLIPSE.
By PROF. o. MITCHELL.


day, with all the aids of modern science,
the prediction of an eclipse seems sufh-
GENTLY mysterious and unintelligible.-
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 l at
tempt to reveal the reasoning which led .
to the prediction Of the first eclipse of
the sun, the most daring prophecy ever
made by human genius. Follow, in i'm
agination, this bold interrogator 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withdrawn from the world--surrounded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 grappIes with it, and resolves
never to give over till victory crowns his
efforts.
He has already remarked that the
moons track in the heavens crossed the
suns 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 moon, in each successive reTolutionj
crossed the suns path at a different point.
IF the sun in his annual revolution could
leave behind him a track fire, marking
his journey among the stars, it is found
that this same track was followed from
year to year, and from century to centu-
ry, with undertaking precision. But it
was soon discovered that it was far differ
ent 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 join, but would wind around
among the stars in each revolution, cross
ing 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 a cycle of about
nineteen years, it had circulated in the
same direction entirely around the eclip-
tic. Long and patiently did the astrono-
mer watch and wait; each eclipse is du-
ly observed, and its attendant circum-
stances are recorded, when, at last, the
darkness begins to give way, and ray Of
light breaks upon his mind. He finds
that no eclipse of the sun ever occurs, un-
less the new moon is in the act of cross
ing the suns track. Here was a grand
discovery. He holds the key which he
believes will unlock the dread mystery
and now, with redoubled energy, he re-
solves TO thrust it into the wards, and
drive back the bolts.
To predict an eclipse of the sun, he
must 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 Ger
tainly was invisible. He knew the ex-
/ act period from new moon to new neon,
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 from the suns track ;
he looks around another revolution the
place Of the new moon falls closer to the
suns path, and tie next year closer, un-
III, reaching forward with piercing intel
lectual vigor, he at last finds new moon
which occurs precisely at the computed
time Of the passage across the suns track.
Here he makes a 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 .-Myste-
rious prophet With what scorn must
the unthinking world have received this
solemn declaration How slowly do the
moons roll away, and with what intense
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 .noyes 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 tn,
: dawn of the eyentful day breaks in beau
1 ty on the slumbering world.
D This daring man, stern in his faith
: climbs alone 10 his rocky home, and greet
the sun as he rises and mounts the heav
ems, scattering brightness and glory il
a his path. Beneath him is spread out IN