Vermont phÅ“nix. [volume] (Brattleboro, Vt.) 1834-1955, 1860-07-14
THE ECLIPSE.

MT. ASA DHilIn, ClBuJH
New York has prepared diagram of the eclipse
of the sun, which will take place July 18th,
1860. Commencing at seven O'Clock and ten
minutes in the morning, and will continue two
hours and ten minutes. The diagram consists
of map of the world, the sun and moon at the
time of the eclipse, which will be sent to any
address on the recipe of ten cents, and one post
age stamp. A short history of this eclipse
may be interesting to our readers
Its first appearance since the creation Of the
world according to sacred chronology was in
the A. ID. 95S, Dec. Sth old style, at 10 o'clock
som. forenoon, when the moons penumbra just
came in contact with the earth at the south
pole; it has appeared every nineteenth year
since, and at each return the moons shadow
passed across the earth from west to east lit
tie further to the north at each return, until the
year 1864, March Sth, o. s., when the center
of the moons shadow passed little to the north
of the earth's center (the moon being ii min.
46sec. from her descending node which was its
3Sth periodical return) 1t has continued to
appear every nineteenth year since 1864, until
this eclipse. which is its 5lst periodical return.
Its appearance will be in 1878, July 29th at
o'clock % min. in the morning, invisible in the
United States 1t will also appear again every
nineteenth year until the year 2274, Apr, 25th
when the moons shadow will just touch the
earth at the north pole, which will be its 10Th
periodical and last appearance, until the expi-
ratios of 12,4 02 years when it will come on
again at the south pole, and go through a sim
liar course. The velocity of the moons shadow
across the earth during the eclipse, will be
about 1850 miles an hour or four times the We
locity of cannon ball.
An eclipse of the sun is caused by the moon
passing between the earth and sun. An eclipse
of the moon is caused by the moon passing
through the earths shadow.
The moon revolves around the earth once in
about 81 1-2 days, or from one new moon to
ENTHUSIASTICALLY the moon passes between
the earth and sun once during each revolution
hence if the moons orbit was in the same
place with the center of the sun and earth, the
moon would pass directly between the earth
and at every new moon, and at every full moon
would pass directly through the earth's shad-
ow, so that we should have a great eclipse of
the sun at every new, and total eclipse of the
moon at every full moons but the moons orbit
makes an angle with the earth's orbit of 1-2
deg, so that at new moon the moon is general
ly too high or too low for the shadow to strike
the earth, and at full moon the moon generally
passes over or below the earth's shadow, there
fore no eclipse can take place. The least num-
Der of eclipses that can take place in one year,
is two, both of the sun the greatest number
seven. The usual number of eclipses in one
year is four or FIVE.
Among the sciences known to mankind, that
of Astronomy is the most sublime, interesting,
useful and elevatng to the mind and character
of man. Our very faculties are enlarged with
the grandeur of the ideas it conveys, our minds
are exalted above the low contracted predjudi-
ces of the ignorant, and our understandings are
clearly convinced of the existence, wisdom, pow
er, goodness, immutability and superintendent
cy of Supreme Being. Eclipses are among
the most interesting phenomena presented to us
by the heavenly bodies. The cause of eclipses
before the seventeenth century, were known
only to a few who were called astrologers, and
who pretended to foretell future events by read
ing the stars they also claim to be inspired
by the gods, and practiced all manner of dccep-
lions upon the ignorant-hence cclipses were
regarded as an indication of the wrath of an
offended deity, which was soon to be visited
upon them for their manifold transgressions.-
Although eclipses are not viewed with fear at
the present day, yet they excite the profound
attention of all classes, as afording positive
demonstration of the ability of astronomers to
the great problems of the heavens, which have
from the creation been spread out in the broad
expanse of the armament, and obscured only by
the Ignorance of man.
Among the ancient nations the Chaldeans
were the foremost in their observations of the
phenomena of the heavens; this was owing in
some measure to their occupation they being
shepherds, were obliged to watch their focks
by night, to protect them from wild beasts
which were numerous at that time. Men under
such circumstances would naturally be led to
watch the movements of the heavenly bodies
and more especially SO, for in the earlier periods
of the world they had no correct mode of reck-
oning time in order to determine the season, OF
the proper seed time and harvest.
The Chaldeans, by series of observations
extending through several centuries, discovered
very important fact relating to eclipses, al
though they did not understand the cause By
comparing the record which had been made Of
eclipses for great length of time, they found
that there was period of 1913 moons or luna
tons, between eclipses Of the same kind and
magnitude, the only difference being that they
did not happen at the same time OF day, ant
that the eclipse was little greater or less thar
the previous one. By this discovery they were
able to predict eclipses with sufficient accuracy
to answer the designs upon the ignorant, with
out understanding the laws by which these pc
riodical eclipses were produced.
To explain this briefly, it must be remembered
that the moons orbit makes an angle with the
plane of the earth's orbit of ID deg. thest
two points where the moons orbit cuts the plan,
of the earth's orbit are called nodes. Now W.
will suppose, say on the LIST day of July, 1860
at noon, it is exactly new moon, and that tn,
moon is exactly in her ascending node, which
would produce great eclipse of the sun, il
223 lunations thereafter the sun, moon ant
node will be nearly in the same position, con
sequently another eclipse will take place-thu
the same eclipse would continue to appear a
the expiration Of every 223 lunatons; but a
every appearance the shadow would pass acros
the earth at the south pole and at the expiration
of 1892 years it would come on again at tn
north pole. Each which happens in any on
year, belongs to separate series, and canno
take place again until the expiration of IS year
II days.