Richmond daily Whig. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1842-1861, 1860-07-14
THE ECLIPSE OF JULY.

Astronomers are looking forward with much interest
10 the eclipse Of July 18th, which, although but partial
portion Of the United States will be total n Ore
gon the mouth OF the Columbia river and thence
over narrow strip Of country to Fort York. on the
shore of Hudsons Bay and to the north-easternmost
point Of labrador (Cape Chidey) To the latter place
expedition has been sent under the auspices Of the
National Government.
The GREAT ECLIPSE or July lS.-The centre Of this
ecpse-that is the centre OF the moons shadow-will
first touch the earths disc in the Pacific ocean, in at
tude Sc deg. 81 min NJ longitude l25 deg. W. Of Green
wch the morning Of July is. THIS point is about 20
miles south OF the entrance OF Columbia river and
here the will rise centrally eclipsed at 80 minutes
past o'clock, or 81 minutes past noon at Green
wich. As the shadow comes up the precipitous
side Of the earth in three minutes from the moment of
lis entrauce il makes stride Of $50 miles, passirg d.
recuy over Astoria and then, with gentle easterly
curve, north-eastery through Washington Territory,
the Rocky Mountains to the parallel Of so deg
north latitude which it in longitude ll2 deg IS
min w. In IL minutes il reaches point near the
northwestern shore OF Hudsons Bay latitude 30 deg
45 min.
With essenng speed In nineteen minutes more il will
have crossed Hudsos Bay and the main land OF north
Labrador and arrive Cape Chidey, its northern
terminus latitude 50 &c. Thence slightly north Of cast
it sweeps of into the Northern Ocean with velocity of
S5 miles per minute aud nearly touches the Goth para
e Of latitude Then gently curvng sardly in 23i
minutes arrives at point 96 miles souhery Of Cape
Farewell, in longitude IL deg. 30 min. W; and with
increasing hery curve AZ minutes more recroses
the 50th parallel OF latitude in longitude l6 deg W.
o'clock 81 minutes p. M local time that spot Thence
passing southeastery into the Bay OF Bscay, in 90 min
utes more il strikes the northern o Spain in ong
tude deg W, 2h. 39m F. NJ, local time. 1t will be
IL minutes in crossing the Peninsula leaving its southern
shore in latitude 80 deg 40 min Crossing the Mcditer
Sea in minutes will touch the African shore
in longitude deg f. Thence passing souheaserly in
3Si minutes il leaves the earth the western
of the Red Sea- in latitude Is deg 40 min. NJ lon
gitude 3S deg 45 min E. at which poat the will
centrally eclipsed, at ca. Sim local time The central
eclipse allowing for the effect of relracoD viii the
earth's disc 10 3h and Pan.
The mooa's shadow, could it fall pcrpendcularly on
the surface OF the earth would fom circle 70 miles in
diameter, but ia IL passes the northern verge OF the
EARTH it will form eclipse varously elongated aud dis
torted according the inclination of the, surface and
the direction OF the central path When ihe western
edge OF the shadow touches Astoria its edge will
reach point 450 miles eastwaFdy the central track
nearly the crest Of the Rocky Mountains The trans
verse diameter will then be lI0 miles, Where il passes
the neghborhood OF England into the Bay Of Bscay and
through Spaiu the shadow will form eclipse 10 miles
vide the central pIth bu. elongated 60 TO 20 miles
each side, nearly right angels At all points with
in the shadow the sun will be totally eciipsed
On map Of North America eleven lines drawn paral
lei to and south Of the central track at intervals Of
hundred niles will indicate nearly those points where
the sun will be II, 10 ., &c, digs eclipsd. The rn-
eclpsed dgs represent the central width Of the suns
luminous crescent in twehs OF his diameter tue
meut OF greatest obscuration.
As the central track the great thoroughre of
European and American commerce, an inter.s ing op-
portuniy will be furnished TO those who nsy be making
the passage aud may happen 10 be within the limits of
the moons shadow for observing phenomena which many
will have made long aud expensive journeys to Wit
mes.
The distances mentioned above are in statute miles :;
the hours aud minutes indicate mean time.