Watertown republican. [volume] (Watertown, Wis.) 1860-1906, 1869-07-21
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Instructions to Meteorological Obser
servers Along the Line ofTOtaIity In
tho Upfted States.

!
As the United States Naval Observatory
is to have all its available force in the field,
expecting TO contribute its full share O
! labor on this OCCASION it is desirable that,
/ during the eclipse of the sun, meteorologi-
| cal observations should be made within the
belt OF totality, with barometer, dry
bulb thermometer, a wet-bulb thermome-
ter, solar thermometer, with blackened
bulb, lnclosed, if possible in glass cyliu-
| der from which air has been exhausted,
| and an actinometer.
The barometer should be suspended in
the shade, and if provided with a ther-
memeter the temperature should be deter
mined at each reading. The dry and wet
bulb thermometers should be suspended in
the shade IN such a manner as to prevent
as far as possible, the abnormal influence
of radiation from the surrounding bodies,
and at the same time secure free circrlla-
ton of the air.
The solar thermometer should be placed
in slender wooden crutches, about six
inches above the green grass Of d field or
lawn, and in locality where the direct
solar rays shall reach it from sunrise to
sunset.
Observations with the actinometer
should be made in the open air, and the
bulb should, as far as practicable, be pro-
tected from the influence of air currents.
If possible observations should be made
at each hour of the day and night of the
9th, 7th and 9Th of August, beginning at
midnight of the 5th.
If observations cannot be made during
the night, great care should be taken to
make them carefully at each hour of the
day
A careful statement of the character of
the weather should be made at each OBJ
servation.
On the 7th of August observations with
the actinometer should begin at 10 o'clock
in the morning, and be made at intervals
OF thirty minutes until the first contact of
the limbs of the sun and moon, when they
should be continued at intervals of ten
minutes until the last contact, or until sun
set. One observation should be made, if
practicable, during totality.
The barometer should be read at intervals
of 20 minutes while any portion of the
sun is eclipsed, and once during its totality.
The thermometers should be observed at
intervals of 10 minutes during the eclipse,
and once during totality
The time of the beginning of the total
observation should be carefully noted by
the clock or watch by which the meteoro-
logical observations are timed
The belt of country in the Uuited States
over which the eclipse will appear total is
about 140 miles wide, and from the coast of
North Carolina stretches away in rortk-
westerly direction, through North Carolina,
Tennessee, Kentucky, Virginia, Indiana,
Illinois and Iowa, and the central line Of
this belt passes near the following cities and
towns:
Leesburg, Magnolia, Clinton, Fayette-
vile, Carthage, Lexington, Mocksville,
Wilksboro, Boon, N. G.. Blountsville Tay-
lorsyille, Kingsport, Union, in Tennessee;
Estliville, Bristol, in Virginia; Mt. Pleas
ant Manchester, Mount Vernon Harrods-
burg, Louisville. in Kentucky; Corydon,
Newton, Haysville, Maysville, Bruceville,
Washington, in Indiana; Robinson, Green
up, Shelbyyille, Stonington, Springfield,
Petersburg, Bath, Macomb, La Harpe, in
Illinois; Burlington, Mt. Pleasant, Fair
field, sOskaloosa, Monroe, Mitchellville,
Des Moines, Boonsboro, New Munich,
Lake City, Cherokee, in Iowa.
All persons who may make such observa-.
tions as described above, will confer great
favor if they will forward their observa-
tions, together with the errors of their in
struments, if known, to the SuperinIend-
ent of the United States Naval Observatory
Washington, d. G.
Papers circulating in those sections where
the eclipse IS total, will confer a favor and
greatly contribute to the success of this en-
terprise by copying this notice. -
B. F. SANDS.