The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-09
The Eclipse.

The eclipse has been quite success II has
passed off in manner to crafty the highest
expectation. We have had a grand and rare
sensation; and the world has not been de-
stroyed, nor have the signs of the approaching
end been multiplied. Scientific men have had
their dearest wish gratified; they have wit
messed a solar eclipse and made their observa-
tons in the most favorable circumstances, and
seekers after knowledge are hopeful that as
ledge will be greatly increased All along the
belt, wherever scientific parties had stationed
themselves, observations were made with sue
cess, aud accurate photographs were taken of
the different phases Of the eclipse.
The observations seem to have been pecu-
llarly interesting at Des Moines, Iowa
Springfield and NATION, Ill.,, and at
Shelbyville, KY. At Des Moines the rose
colOred protubersnces of the sun appeared
to the number of five or six, the largest
being on the suns southwestern quarter. It
was discovered that the mercury fell thirteen
degrees during the progress of the eclipse
The darkness during the totality was intense.
Venus and Mercury were seen by the naked
eye. At Shelbyville quite host of scientific
men had gathered together. Professor Win
lock used the new instrument, the spectrOscope,
with wonderful success. In the spectrum of
the protuberances Of tue -un he observed eleven
bright lines, not more than FIVE having been
observed heretofore. Between the moon and
the earth he observed shower of meteors
photographs of the sun were taken at different
times during the partial observation. The
beautiful red prOtuberances were visible to the
naked eye; so also were the stars Mercury,
Vega, Venus and Arcturus. At Springfield
and Nation observations were also made by
several scientific men, and photographs taken
of the sun. One of The telescopes used at Mat
toon was provided with means for accurately
measuring the divisions of the protuberances
on the sun and the corona. The mercury fell
forty-twO degrees within one hour
What are those protuberances that project
from the corona? DO they, after all, belong
to the sun? What are the bright lines which
Professor Winlock observed in the spectrum of
those prot,iberances? These are the ques-
tons which are uppermost in every mind and
which scientific men will now have to set
themselves to answer. We shall no doubt
have all manner Of speculations, and theories
innumerable will be given to the world. But
we are not without the hope that il scientific
men give themselves to the work and lend to
each other helping hands and heads, some
definite and satisfactory result will be attained.
The spectroscope has proved itself mighty
agent In the hands of the astronomer Pho
Biography has become an agent scarcely less
useful. 1t will be a credit to the. United
States If her sons succeed in first pointing the
way TO a complete solution of the composition
and general character of the great solar orb,
the mighty king Of day. Something, we feel
assured, has already been attained In this
direction. Astronomy will be fairly entitled
to the name of the Star-eyed Science when
she shall have driven this other mystery from
the dominion Of nature. When we know
the sun as well % we now know
the moon shall we or shall we not be
Gar the source Of, lighti We shall yet
sh,c''''' whether the great king Of day covers
himself with robe of light which Is ell his
own or whether even he struts about in bor-
| rowed raiment. Science may yet take the
shine out of the sun.
|