Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1858-11-01
The Eclipse Of the sun I'm south America
Narratiye Of the Rr lillian n v n.Ii,ia-

Nefah'e si the BRAZILIAN Expedition.
The commission despatched by the Brazilian
government to observe the solar eclipse, have
returned to Rio. Their point of observation
was Paranagua, whore they report they met
with cordial reception and unbounded hospi.
taiity. The following notes Of the Expedition
were furnished by Senior Candida de Oliviera
the head Of the corps, to the Rio Press:
The astronomical commission, charged by
the Imperial Government with the duty Of
observing the total eclipse which was to take
place at the city of Paranagua ON the 7th Of
September, arriving at that city on the 10th OF
August, proceeded, without loss of time, tc
make the necessary indispensable obserya.
tions, In order to demonstrate the most con.
venient point to be used as an observatory
Thanks to the presence of the president of the
commission, with Sen. Antonio de Mello and
MI, Liais, they were enabled to form the op.
perfume resolution OF distributing the person
mel of the commission at three different sta.
tons, assistant to the central observatory, viz
Il. Station at Campina, situated at a rocky
summit, at the distance of about twelve leagues
TO the west Of the Central line of the eclipse
This station was entrusted to Lieutenant Silva
Bsranna, and to Rufino Eneas Galvao, captain
of engineers.
2. Station Of the Isle of Pines, distant abou,
eight leagues from the Central Observatory,
and TO the east Of the medal line of the eclipse
ms station was In charge of Captain Ray
mundo de BritO, commander of the Pedro / ,
with the aid of Lieutenant Aranjo, attached
TO the marine corps of that vessel
8 Station on board the Pedro H., anchored
near the Central Observatory. This post was
c1nhded to Lieut.. Azambsja, of the steamer.
10 senior Mello was assigned the duty of deter
mining the contact of the two bodies, and the
observation OF the various phenomena presented
oy the luminous ring which surrounds the moon
NJ the moment Of complete occuItation. NJ.
Liais undertook to photograph the several
phases Of the eclipse. Other duties were dis
trlouted among the minor officers of the expe-
dition.
The latitude of the Observatory was ascer.
tanned from the altitude of several stars To be
70 deg. 30 min. SO sec, s., and the longitude by
the comparison Of three chronometers to be II
deg I'll min. w., of the observatory at Rio ia
metro.
The observation of the first contact of the
post owing to the Intervention Of a cloud which
concealed the sun. Ii was observed, however,
at the second station.
AZ the phenomena OF occultation advanced
the anxiety Of the astronomers increased with
regard to the appearance of the luminous ring,
NJ the moment OF the second contact, or of the
entire occultation of the sun. At this period
the most perfect silence reigned in the observa-
tory, both on the part of the observers and
among the spectators of both sexes who were
present; a silence for several minutes, only
broken by the sonorous and distinct voice of
Lieut. Netto counting the seconds of time
Then the occulation of the sun was completed
oy the momentary appearance of the ring of
ilgnt surrounding the disc of the moon that
stupendous wonder which can never be ade-
quately described. however grand our concep-
tions OF the singular phenomena, the account
belittles the reality.
The scientific de ails of this important obser-
Walton will be published at q length irrecon-
cilsble with this hasty notice
CASDIEo BAPTIsrA DE OLIyIERA.
Paranagua, Sept. 10, 1858.