The weekly Ottumwa courier. [volume] (Ottumwa, Iowa) 1857-1872, 1869-08-05
The ECLIPSE.

der OF Princeton College, N. j., TO
superintcnd the scientific observa-
tions to be made Of the grand Solar
Eclipse, which is to occur in this Ion.
gitude on Saturday, August 9TH.
\ portion of the volunteer parties
to aid THESE distinguished scientific
gentiemen in their observations, have
arrived at Des Moines and Bnrling.
ton, and are now making the neces.
sary preparation for this important
event.
Prof Coffin arrived here yestor-
day evening, and is now stopping at
tho Ballingall. "
Immediately ON his arrival, our
ever. attentive and public spirited
citizen, Mr.. PIG. Bailingall, took him
in one of his carriages around on the
bluffs of the city to select suitable
place to erect the required buildings,
Nc, and after examining the College
grounds, the bluffs nearthe residence
of d. collars, and other localities, the
Professor finally selected beautiful
spot of ground between Mrs. Pun
roy's and tho house of d. w. Steb.
bins, where parties will proceed at
once to erect the necessary buildings.
A fine telescope will arrive in an
extra car on next Wednesday.
Profs. Coffin and Alexander will
both be here, together with large
party of assistants, with all the nee
cssary instruments to take photo
graphs of the sun in it's various sta
ges Of observation.
Prof. g. informs us that this is the
first total observation of the sun
which has occurred in this locality
for thirty-tive years, and that this
point is the best one on the entire
line of the total eclipse for satisfac-
tory experiments; hence the selec-
ton Of this place by Profs. Coffin
and Alexander, the principals of the
government party, for their observa-
tons.
The eclipse will commence a tow
minutes before four o'clock, and pass
off a few minutes after six, while tho
total observation will occur about 5
o'clock, and will only last some three
minutes.
We have before us pamphlet is
sued by Prof. Coffin, giving some
valuable suggestions and facts con-
ncctcd with this subject, which we
submit below.
A total eclipse Of the sun presents
such variety of phenomena, some
startling, impressing with awe and
astonishment, and irrcpressibly fas-
cinating, that each observer should
select those which he can best OBJ
serve, and confine his attention to
them. Where party is assembled
p special work can be assigned tC
each one, and thus all classes OF obser
vations be provided for; though each
individual may see only part O
what may be seen.
On the occasion Of the eclipse it il
necessary that quiet and stiffness
should be maintained. A whisper
ing, murmuring crowd, much more {
noisy, talkative one, may seriously
impair observations, or even occasion
their total loss. What can be seer
by the unaided eye can be as wei
seen many miles away as in the i'm
mediate vicinity of those who are
provided with instruments for precise
observations.
| A smoked glass will suffice tt
screen the eye before the sun is en-
tirely obscured. 1t shouldbe shaded
and that part used which will let the
sun look bright enough to be plainly
seen, but not SO bright as to dazzle
the eye. Such a screen, however, il
not needed in watching for the sum-
temperance. The first flash of true
sunlight will appear quite suddenly
tits preceded by gradually increas
ing glow on the border of the moon
which must not be mistaken for it.
* X !; j:
Two spectators, not very far apar
may be SO situated that one, just out
side the limit of the shadow at tn,
moment of greatest observation
may still see fine, silvery line at on
edge of the moons disk; the other
just within the shadow, may have
very brief duration of total obscura.
ton. Or, they may witness the pas
sage of the shadow, as of cloud, Oh
the ground between them. Such oh
servations are not without their val
ne, especially if the location wher
they are made is carefully noted.
Il + X il X
A record of the transition from full
4 daylight to a simulated twilight, an,
subsequent return to daylight, will
not be without interest. The ordc
and time in which distant objects APP
pear or disappear, especially if sim,
lar in color, and their distances ar,
tolerably well estimated, will furnish
indications of the change. AS thu
obscurity deepens, changes in thu
color and appearance of surrounding
objects, the distinctness with which
fine print can be read, or the size
which can be read at all, and the eff
feet of the obscurity on animals, may
be noticed.
The approach and recession of thu
shadow, appearing on the grount
like that of cloud, should be watch
ed by those who are not occupied
with othor observations; and any pc
culiaritics described, as, for instance
whether its appearance and motion
are uniform, or dark stripes appea
fitting across the landscape, or tn
edge appears tremulous, PARTICULAR
at the instant of immersion ais
whether there is not trcmor Of tn
last visible ray Of the sun.
The government has sent partie
j; In take ohsarvatioua al hin pd M