Brookville American. [volume] (Brookville, Ind.) 1858-1861, 1858-04-23
The Solar Eclipse Of 1868.

Inc Solar Eclipse OF Aooos
On this subject NJ. Faye has just read
an interesting paper to the Academy OF
Sciences, with view to call the attcn-
ton OF astronomers to the questions
which may be either entirely solved or
mt least considerably clucidated by the
observation ofthose important phenem-
ena: What, he asked, Is the sun? IL
Is ficry globe, composed Of tive con-
centric parts Of very unequal densties,
The inner part constitutes n spherical
nucleus, and the outer one n kind Of very
extensive atmosphere. AT . certain
distance from the center this atmosphere
is covered with continuous spherical
layer of peculiar kind OF clouds,
which arc luminous, and constitute the
fiery globe visible 10 us-the "photo-
sphere of the sun. Under this princi-
pal layer nucleus, aud above the photo.
sphere thore are tho last highly rarcfcd
there and usually invisible strata OF the
general atmosphere. From the nuclc-
ts, gaseous eruption Issue, partially
dissipatIng aud extinguishing tho iu-
minons clouds of tho photosphcrc--nay,
rising beyond Il Into the extreme strata
(Which only become visible by faint
light nj the limo Of an ccllpse)' where
they form those torrents OF vapor
known as "rosc. colored protubcrances.'
The volume OF those vapoIs Is some
times one thousand, and oven two thou
sand times the size OF our globe. Nj.
Fave now draws q parallel between the
present condition of the sun as above
described, and what must have been
the condition OF our earth when the
crust which now concoals It's central
fire was not yet formed. IL was then "a
,liminutiyc sun; the whole mass IL its
waters swan In the atmosphere under
the form OF steam, with the immense
mass Of carbonic acid which has since
boon absorbed by calcarcous natter
These vapors, which were invisible and
transparent In the vicinity Of tho then
liquid nucleus, were condensed at con-
siderable altitude, 30 as 10 form u COIL
siderable altitude, 80 us 10 form con-
tinuous involucrum of white clouds,
brilliantly Illuminated by the rays q
,hc sun. Seen from distance, our earth
must have presented this atmosphere to
the eye. Immediately above II there
must have been the last strata OF air in
high state of rarcfacation, and there
fore incapable Of supporting any Of
luminous clouds or aqueous vapors.
Immediately below there must havo
been n layer of dark clouds or fogs con-
stantly dissipatod by the radiation of
the nucleus; and lower still dense at
mosphcre weighing upon tho still denscr
smoke, necessarily issuing up from the
nucleus. NJ. Faye concludes this ho-
pothetical picture by supposing that
volumes of gas did mt one time penetrate
through the philosophers, producing
gaps in the stratum OF white clouds; in
which case distant observer would,
through the gaps, have seen the dark
nucleus OF the Garth. Just as we at pres
cnt zee that of the sun through the
gaps, in itphotosphcrc, which appear to
ms as dark spots.
Whether this theory really explains
the process actually in progress in the
sun, can only be asccrtained by an cx-
act observation of cclipses. The eclipse
of September, 1853, will only 10 central
and total tothe inhabitantsof the south
ern continent of America, where there
are but few astronomers and observ-
atories. NJ. Faye however, proposes to
establish two obscrvatories for the occa-
sions, one ut Ignape, on the coast OF
Brazil, and the other in Peru, at one
and half degrees south of Cape Blan-
go. But the first eclipse, which is TO
take place next March, though not cen.
trail rs regards France, will be very
nearly so; Tor the spot whence it might
be seen is only thirty-two kilometres
from the Island of Ouessant; and an OBJ
server stationed on that island will see
tho eclipse with deviation of only
fourteen seconds from the center. At
Brest the observation would not be so
favorable, the minimum of breath In the
solar crescent being twenty-five Sec
onds, very unfavorable condition for
observing the physical condition of the
sun. III. Faye now points out various
precautions 10 be takon by astronomers
In making their observations. First,
he advises them TO divcst themselves OF
all prcconccivcd theoretical notions,
which might induce them TO neglect es-
sential circumstances for others, the i'm
portanco Of which may be mere matter
of opinion. They ought, therefore, to
mark down the situation of the solar
spots on the day before and the day af-
ter the eclipse, in order TO sec whether
they really coincide with the obseurs.
ton. Secondly, the observer should
husband his cycs--that IL, avoid looking
al the sun or receiving Us direct rays,
until the very moment Of the obscrva-
tion--elsc he may be uuRols 70 soc al
the expected phenomena with sufficient
nicely. Thirdly, In order TO avid the
irregular rcffactions causdh BY the All
within tho tube Of the tel&ropv w1fc15'
rarifed by long exposure 70 the sun, the
instruments ought 10 remain covered
with white cloth, having previously
been pointed 10 the proper spot in tho
heavens until the momcnt when the OBJ
scrvasion Is to begin. This precaution,
N. Faye contends, is Of The greatest i'm
portancc, aud It's being Neglected Is the
cause Of frequent orrcr. So great In
decd, is the effect of this roffaction that
the disc Of Saturn has sometimes boon
seen In tho form Of square, with its
angles slightly rounded off.-Galig-
Hasfs Messenger