The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1869-08-07
Scientific Expeditions for It's Tho
rough Observation.
The EclipStS Of 1906 and 49, as Described by
FrnimOre Cooper and AragC.
C0rrec. Time Table for New York and vi.
entity and All Principal Cities
Of the Country.
The Velocity Of Zts zsSarsh Across
the Continent.

This day there will occur one OF the great pheno-
Ynena OF nature-a solar eclipse. There was one an
annular eclipse OF the sum- on the nth Of February
last but visible only in the southern parts of South
America and Africa. The occurring to-day and
visible over the whole United States on belt line
the centre Of which runs from Alaska 10 the coast
OF North Carolina, Is total eclipse the second and
last for this year, and the last of this character
visible in this country during the remainder OF the
present century. The last total eclipse OF the sun
occurred on the 18th OF August 1858, visible from
points IN Australia South Africa and Southern Asia,
and it will be recollected that number of European
governments sent out scientific expeditions to OBJ
serve the phenomenon at places touched by the Gen.
iraI line OF the passing umbra as the astronomers
have named the SHADOW OF the moons disk thrown
upon The earth's surface. 1t on the occasion
Of the solar eclipse ia 1850 that the modern
Invention of the process OF almost instantaneous
Photograph was first applied with success by Mr..
Warren de la Rue, to perpetuate the appearance OF
the in his various stages the moon passed be-
tween him and the earth. Again, in 1865 the pro
cess Of photography having been much improved,
folar echpses and their varying phases were sue
cessfuiy transferred to sensitive plates and pre-
Eerved. But new and still greater invention had
been added to the Of science In the course OF
time. This was the spectroscope, plain little III
Eirunent, constructed by Professors Bunsen and
k1rchnOn, 10 anaSZe HgHt, tiSSecb IT, as IL were,
into its component parts and discover the mate
rial character OF the source from whence proceeds.
TAis little yet highly important instrument was
for the rst time used, in the year last named, In
connection with improved telescope aud photo
graphic apparatus in the scientific observations OF
tie solar eclipse. The results then obtained
greatly surpassed, however by those gained by the
several expeditions to Asia and Africa, at Alden and
other points in 1868, where not only correct views
were made OF the physical appearance OF the
ECLIPSE, but also the irregular outlines OF the
md moon partially determined and by means of the
FpecIroscOpe even the nature OF these heavenly
bodies arrived at 10 a certain degree. The great
discovery which the spectroscope thus enabled
Gle men of science TO make was that the component
parts OF the sun and the moon were the same as
those Of the earth, ana nothing has been found in
the prisrnatlc reflection dissection Of the rays OF
light which has not also spondlng ingredient
in the earths composition. And as the spectroscope
has been brought to such perfection that the one
hundred and eighty milionth part OF graln-a
quantity the smallness OF which is beyond human
cOmprehension-or any substance can be detected
and easily discerned in It's reflection OF light IT is
certainly good assurance for our belief. The total
eclipse OF this day, being visible over such large
bet OF land as stretches from the northwest Of the
North American Continent to the shores OF North
Carolina, furnishes an extraordinary opportunity
for thorough scientific observations, the results OF
which are looked forward TO by men or science all
over the word with unusual interest Since, in the
present unitarian aye, science Is no longer the
uslve property of the few but enters largely as the
most progressive and propelng element, into tue
CIVILIZATION Of mankind, none can doubt that
from these observations, properly made use oil,
practical benefits may flow, not only In our
enlarged knowledge Of astronomical geogra-
OF the Sea- be alowed-6ut also III our better CON-
prehenson OF the physical elements OF the heavenly
bodies. Ii Will be apparent TO ali that sucn Know
ledge and comprehension cannot fan to exert their
useful influence in many ways, and tae nearer we
bring the starry heavens to US the higher we raise
the dignity and nobility OF mankind
INPoRTAST SCIENTIFIC EXPEDITIONS
have been organized by the chiei oeservatorles by
the Nautical Almanac once, by the United states
coast survey and by wealthy and pubiic-spirited
private parties with all tie acities Tor accurate in
yestigation. The sum- III various stages OF eclipse,
viii be photographed and the time VI the pneno-
mena noted, WINE the spectroscopc phenomena VIII
he made the subject Of special and exhaustive
ANALYSIS The astronomical party from the Dear
born Observatory in Chicago Will Join forces with
The party IRON the washington Observatory, and are
ead TO have selected Tor their point OF observation
spot near Burlington, Iowa. Professor Han,
from the Washington Observatory, has started
corps OF assistants, and he VIII there, so
it u reported, he joined by scientific expedition
from Russia. Professor Henry, OF the Smithsonian
institute, aided by experienced photographers and
also by experts with spectre cope, wiz be In North
Carolina and all along the central line OF eclipse
rather OF the umbra or shadow OF the moon, winch
rs the line Of total observation OF the suns DISK; ob
Seryations VIII be made AT various points, some
more some less extensive. Even Europe has not
let the opportunity pass and has sent out several
expeditions from various countries TO enrich the
store of our knowledge OF what ~ Immediately above
and around us. Great expectations are based upon
the observations to be made by Professor Henry
Morton Of the Franklin Institute, Of Phlade phia,
accompanied by mir. j. II. CONN, OF the Nautical
Almanac Office, who are In Iowa to-day. Professor
morton has secured for THIS purpose the equatorial
of the Philadelphia High school and that OF the
Gettysburg University, both OF SIX inch aperture.
Mr. Warren de la Rue recommends that Teiractors
OF six inch aperture and ten feet local length should
he used, mounted on equatorial stands with CLOCK
work drivers. Each instrument has portable Oh
Eervatory with Photographic appliances, including
four plate holders ana five baths with fused nitrate
OF silver, which gives more sensitive surface than
the crystazed salt. Four operators accompany
each telescope two being expert photographers and
oil well practised with the instrument IN making
lunar photographs
THE ECLIPSE NEW YORK CITY.
In this city and It's vicinity II Will present the APP
pearance or the accompanying figure at the moment
Jf greatest 0bscuratlon:-