The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-07

! The SUMS diameter being divided into twelve
digits, 100 Clio dgts wiz be covered at greatest OBJ
Where the Observers position is elevated suf-
| fcently 10 overcome the distractions Of the sur
| rounding buildings, and Of the Pasade Heights In
the West he may see the sun entirely free from the
moons disk, abont Ave minutes before the setting Of
that point on the SUMS linlD at which the last con-
! tact with the moons limo takes place.
WHAT Is THE ECLIPSE or THE sUNY
The shortest definition OF this natural phenomenon
Is that IL Is the passage OF the moon between the
sun and the earth. Astronomers have classified
eclpses into three distinct degrees-partia, annuar
and total. partial eclipse Is when the moons
disk covers but part OF the sun; annuar eclipse
occurs when the moons disk covers the sum- leaving
an annuus or ring OF the latter visible around him,
and at total eclipse the entire disk OF the
covered ont of sight. An eclipse assumes either one
OF the drst or last of the above phases IN proportion
as the observer may be nearer or farther from the
focal line. Thus, while the eclipse to-day will be
total On the line already mentioned above, It VIII be
but partial at certain distances TO the uortn ana
south OF 1t. An annular eclipse occurs under the
following circumstances:The smallest value OF the
length OF the moons shadow is $40 semidiameterS
of the EARTH ana the greatest distance OF the moon
rom the earth IS 1882 lndIameterS should tne
when these values occur 10 is plain that the moons
shadow VIII fall short OF the EARTH In this case the
sun win not be totally ooscnred from any point OF
the EARTH but VIII present che phenomenon Of ring
OF light or an annular eclipse.
A total eclipse such as will be witnessed to-day
along the focal line already described occurs when
O conjunction OF the sun aud moon happens at time
when the length of the shadow and the distance OF
the moon from the earth identical, nearly so.
the earth, there viii be a total eclipse OF the sun In
all places with 1t, or over which 1t moves.
WIDTH OF THE SHADOW.
The breadth OF the belt traversed by the umbra or
shadow, when the suns distance Is greatest and
the moons the least is estimated at about $50 miles,
In this case the penumbra or seml-shadow covers
circular space Of 1900 miles IN diameter, the eclipse
happenns exacty at the node When n 9e ec e, s
shadow Is inclined to the plane Of the elliptic, the
shadow will be cut obIlquely, aud that part OF The
| earth in shade VIII be oval. Such chart as the
spectator would observe from outside OF the earth
the astronomer complies by calculation.
INCIDENTS OF SOLAR ECLIPSES.
There are some very thrilling and strange appear
ances connected with solar ecipses. 1t is not mere
y, the case Of total eclipse such as that OF to-
day will be, that the darkness Is almost instantane-
GUS but it is still more impressive from the strange
ness OF It, resembling neither the darkness OF night
nor the gloom OF twilight. This peculiar tint OF
shade, If such expression can be used, comes OF
the following fact:-The cone OF the moons shadow,
the whole atmosphere above his horizon. The mass
Of unenveloped air catches the sunlight and rejects
1t into the region OF the total eclipse, making pecu
iiariy solemn twilight, which has no analogy IN all
| the appearance OF nature.
Kenmore CooPER's DESCRIPTION OF AN ECLIPSE.
Fentmore Cooper The great American romancist,
LEFT description. never yet published, OF the great
eclipse OF 1906, which he viewed, in company with
his father, at Cooperstown, N. Y, which will be
given to the reading world for the first time in Pit
nofnS Magazine for September. In his beautiful
aa 5 ne describes me OF natnre
was totally obscured and darkness reigned:-
TseaG sad By familiar ms and nsEnAesn incident
eviag that pisht had Oveaken them coming home
sddr e ss n T sssG he
much deeper than the twilight which usually
e hs s ws
s @ h sea N ne Tss
the buildings Of he little town were swallowed up in the
rendered the obscuriy sl impressive All labor had
e.: # s r. S S
whippOwlr' whispered friend neal and at ,he
bank Of ,S s the w VII sns
OF rh s az be Oa M n slowly IN & At inter
trey ceased for the last half hour bat dttng about
S'O Il on asG Sn sS o "
in the FAR distant northern horizon something of the bright
AZ twelve minutes past eleven the moon revealed
segrns nd The sun that the face Of the great
intensity Of ners was e n NV M "p0. vs.
iugs of the youth making OF that family group ap.
~ a sf Ss s had
Of the msesy Of the ARmlshy accompanied with hum
hcaaee That OF the tia, sublime voyage
s dstsn, day as distinctly as naesticay and nearly as
group silent, dasky forms stood me- One emo
ton appeared 70 govern AL Ny father stood mpovable,
lures lures Three minutes Of AZ but absolute elapsed
ing and be dood Of ovsrpogerns thought Which, aed the
mnd Thus far the sensation creted By this majestic
the great Father Of the Universe had vsb and almost pal
drawa of the ignf had glorious sublime
s the nj s sG wea The %
mated me stars retired and light began TO Play along the
fu cheering cousoling brightness fell into the valley with
sas H. & ss @@S ea Ss
return Of light after the eclipse 70 nothing Of the kind that
sTSd9eYd y The swift passage SHADOW
Rs ss' sa @
directly 70 spirits with full Of protection,
all The glorious combinations OF matter for enjoyment
|
change twas sudden, AMAZING like what the Imagination
I know that phlosophicaly am wrongi but to It
the darkness in torrents til they lad again Illuminated The
Forest the mountains, the valley and the lake with their
There grand as the crescent OF the
her course through the void Venus sin shining bril-.
,anty Men who witness any extraordinary spectacle
ing on It's Impressions But do not remember have
big individual feelings a. The most solemn moment Of the
with the conSo OF TI tbe sDp % zoe S
rreveresy and fsmisriy discussed shall only that
fortune 10 see earth heavens, ocean and in Of
Sss e Os9s he nog % SO 5
ply taught the lesson OF humility to man total eclipse Of
ARAGo on THE ECLIPSE OF 1872
In the year 1912 total eclipse occurred in Europe.
IL was carefully observed and beautifully described
~ Afaeo, the great French astronomer. Ills point
OF observation was Perpignan III the south Of france
The following interesting extract from his account
| Is worthy OF perusai:--
which closely preceded the total Disappearance the sun we
remarked nothing worthy Of record IN the counenances
the numerous spectators But when the sun, narrowed 10
line began to throw the horizon but faint Ne hi
anxiety spread through the whole crowd each man fei
lmpelled TO communicate his impressions TO hls nephbor
Then began dull Ike that OF distant after
| tempest. The noise became louder proportion to
| the thinning Of tie slender solar crescent Finally
| the crescent vanished. Darkness succeeded aud.
| denly the light, and absolute silence
marked this phase OF the eclipse sharply the pendn
lum Of our astronomical clock. The Phenomenon il,
magnifcence had rufnphed the resessness youth
the frvolity which certain sign OF superi
ofy, and the noisy Indifference OF which Soldier,
ordinarily make their boast. profound calm relgned
In the air. the birds ceased their songs Alter
waiting of about two minutes duration transports joy
frantic applause salued, with the accord
spontaneity, the temperance Of the rays
| THE ECLIPSE To-DAY-THE VELOCITY OF THE
| SHADOW.
The effect Of the eclipse to-day and the velocity
the shadow as IL win sweep the surface OF the
earth Is thus described
The Of light coming from the extreme borders Of tn
suns spherical body 10 straight lines and without prevon
crossing to the outer borders OF tho Hrnae
globe, form with the