The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1868-09-20
INDIA.
German Observations Of the Eclipse Of the
sun.

German Observations Of the Eclipse of the
To THE EDITOR OF THE LONDON TINES
As the result OF the observations taken by our
have reached England through the medium OF cleo
tricty, avail myself Of the passage OF mall steamer
TO communicate what was observed at this station.
The only astronomers and photographers that have
come to Alden are ali Germans; three Of them DR..
Weiss, Navigating Lieutenant Rhea and another
gentleman are Austrians. Their chief object was to
make observations on che constitution of the corona
From the observations taken by these gentlemen
there can be no doubt that the problem is solved
several varied experiments proving IN most con-
elusive manner tnat the corona merely consists OF
in1ammable gas In a high state of combustion. The
North German party consisted Of one astronomer
DR.. Thiel OF Bremen and four Prussan photographs
ers, working under the direction OF DR.. Fritch of
Berlin. This party devoted their attention chiefly to
pnOi0graphing the various phases OF the eclipse,
having selected Alden as the most likely spot in the
zone OF "totaty" 70 be free from clouds.
several English amateurs, officers Of the army and
navy, also cong ibuted their hep IN recording yarL
experiments according TO their respective abili.
The weather for week preceding the eyentful 18th
had been unusually CLOUDY for Alden and prevented
the savants who had arrived in the beginning OF
August IrOin making as many observations as they
would have wished. Inc mornings had been par
tcuary trying, the sun rising between thick banks
OF purple gray clouds.
On the evening OF the 18th almost all the rank and
fashion Of Alden made an exodus TO Marshag hill,
the eastern promontory OF Aden where the German
party were established with all their instrumental.
fine night was very cloudy and much anxiety WAS
felt by all Interested In the the observations
At gray dawn however, and just before first con-
tact the banks Of clouds separated into broad bands
occasionally shutting out view Of the eclipse.
Totally commenced at hours 70 mipuie3 Is 10.
combs A. NJ. and lasted minutes 50 seconds, during
which interval most magnificent view OF the pheno-
mena was obtained and four most successful pnOto-
graphs were taken.
the only planets and stars observed during the
totally we're Venus, Jupiter and Sirius, which at
once shows that the darkness was not great.
AT the time OF totaity tie height OF the tide was
seven feet and quarter or for Alden good average
spring tide The preceding spring tides about a
fortnight before were very BAD, the rise and TALL not
being more than four feet.
ON first separation most beautiful soft light stole
out from behind the moon, lighting up the sea and
rocks OF Alden In an 1Ddescrbauly beautiful manner
the sun was unfortunately, behind cloud at the
final separation, winch could not be- therefore, de-
termDed within second OF time. The times were
OIL
H. N. rs.
First separation. ........................ 81 ~
Totally. Observation-Disclosures. 2 90
The German party were delighted with all their
experiments, and CONSIDER themselves amply repaid
for their trouble. They had most superb mstru
ments, anu were particularly civil and obliging In
explaining their use, mechanism, &c. Among the
most interesting was photographng telescope,
which Is made sell-acting ~ means vi most in
geDou5 cl0ckWOrk mechanism, which, with the
nelp OF simple pendulum and endless wheels Is SO
delicatey adjusted "a to counteract the motion Of
the earth and to keep the telescope ripidIy liked on
the star or planet during the ten or fifteen seconds
required 10 receive the impression.
send rough representation of the corona. its
size was accurately measured by means OF a tele
scope with small squares In the dianhrapln These
valves can be exactly determined by experiments
with the same telescope In the distance between
known stars, which can be brought TO SCALE nave
the honor 10 ne, SIR, your most oDedent servant.
EDEN, August Il. 1865. A. g.