The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1860-07-18
THE SENSATION OF TODAY.


The Great Eclipse OF the sum To-Day
Htstory or the Present Obscuration-Its
Path Over the Earth-The Best Places
60 Sec IL IN Anaerfca-How It Will APP
pear in New York-Directions tn View
IL Correctly-A Comet 20 Occur at the
Same Time.
Following close on the heels Of the Japanese Great
Eastern Chicago and Benica Boy excitements
New York win to-day be visited by still another
ton the arrival of distinguished stranger, who SCI
makes lis appearance but who, when he does COME
generally manages create interest widespread al
most the world itself We refer 10 the great eclipse
Of the sun, which viii today, and which will
probably have ceased ere this edition reaches many Of
far dstant readers. Though this celestial phenone
non is one of the most interesting and important
" It's kind that has occurred for the last hal
Osntury, very little has been said written about
IL outside the Immediate circle of astronomers
and savants and hence the public be expected
know much about lis history and they other
wise would. For the beneSt, therefore, OF the Masses
who have not time TO bother themselves In porting
erude works TO drag out few grains OF astronomical
knowledge have prepared q short sketch which viii
be found quito full enough for all useful purposes.
Eclpses Of the caused by the passing be-
the earth and tho me revoves around
the earth about every 29 days, and consequent
period Hence there would DO eclipse of the
atevery moon, and total eclipse Of the at
every fGIl moon, If tho moons orbit was in the
pane with the centre of the and earth. But this
well known, does not The moons orbit makes
anglo with the earhs orbit OF IL degrees, which
rerders Il impossible for eclipse to take place fire.
quenty az might DO supposed The least number Of
eclpes that take place in yoar is two, both Of
The SUM- the grcatest number s There gene
rally three or four eclipses during each year.
II has been ascertaIcd By astronomers that between
eelpses Of the kind and magnitude there period
Of 20 lunations This the sixty FIRST period
OF the present eclipse which, according
cred chronology made its first appearance since the
ton the year A. D. s5s, December s. old STYLE at ten
O'Clock 5om. forenoon, when the moons penumbra just
came contact with the earth at the south POLE Since
then has continued to appear regularly at the end Of
every nineteen years. Its next appearance will in
1873, July 20, at three O'Clock ON in the mornngn-
visible in the United States. 1t will also appear again
1895, August twill continue 10 appear every nine
tenth year until the year 274 April o. when the moons
sh&dow viii Just touch the earth the north pole which
viii be its 10th periodical and last appearance until
expiration Of II ss2 years, when viii again At
the south pole, and go through smilsr The
locy Of the moons shadow the earth during the
eclipse win be about $50 miles an hour, or four times
The velocity Of q cannon ball.
The eclipse today viii be visible from most parts Of
the United States and Cansls well in EUROPE aud
hrge part of Asia and Africa.
EcIIPss EARTH
described follows by Mr.. Asa smith, formerly pnC-
pa Of Public School No. IL, in this city,
Inc perumbra partial shadow Of tho moon will first
come n contact with tho al te rising sum- in the
p-toern part OF Texas between the Indian Territory
New Mexico; u win then take northcastcrly and then
scuthesstery the earth Tho nmbra total
.axk shallow OF the moon viii first come in contac: with
the earth the Pac1c ocean, hundred miles west Of
rregoE crccy west OF Oregon CITY, and little 10 the
po1 hives: OF the month of Colombia river; il will
hen pass in bcasorly direction British
RIA 70 Hudsons Bay. near Fort York, at the mouth Of
Cape On iday which will be the most favorable position
The continent for observing the tsi eclipse IL will
then enter the Atlantic Ocean, passing due until
y south " Cape Farewell The s0cthcrn OF Greenland
where the sill he toally ccpsed Ut noon of thai
place; VII then take curved line tho southeast
pass hg the north " Span, tao Mediterranean Sea-
Ayers, Trp iczan, the southwestern corner OF fgypt
Nubia where n WI the earth the Fed
little BEFORE the setting tho AZ that Place. iho
oath OF The unhra IA whi1h the sun viii be totally
echI~,d WI ~ sbcnt ~ niles IN Width, where's tho
YET nnbra - wh-h fho VIZ snrssr more or less
ecipei, W. extend from tbe 1uf VI Mexico % deg
Cgtn opposte side o. thN North POlc. distance of
900 m les. IRE umbra IN % passage over the
earth crrvei Inc; thx ,a1sca By tbs spherical
Path 81 The mbra would hon straight line from tho
northwest - east mssng angie With The equator
q IL deg. AZ az accs sorih y THO line " total eclipse
tke suns Dor born LIMB VII b e'pscf but N Ew0pe,
Elgland, ireland, ere D'f iceland srl the northern
part OF British anercs Tic sorlcrI LIMB VII be eciscd
New lorkersv .N have fno opportunity Of viewing the
erlps., and uudcr very favorable Circumstances. It viii
Bg at New York ...... hours 10 nllrgtss, nornng
Greatest ooscurSi.oo....... 10
n 40 n ~