Bristol news. [volume] (Bristol, Va. & Tenn.) 1867-189?, 1869-08-06

make their boast A profound calm reig Ted,
too, in the air even tho birds ceased their
song. After a solemn waiting of about two
minutes duration, transports Of joy, frantic
applause saluted, with the Same accord,
spontaneity, the temperance Of the hrst
solar rays. To the melancholy self-collect-
edness, produced by indeflnable sentiments
succeeded lively satisfaction, the evidence
of which no one dreamed of suppressiOg or
of moderating. For the majority Of the
public the phenomenon had reached its
limit. The other phases of the eclipse had
few attentive observers, except those devo-
ted TO the study Of astronomy.
The above Is brief outline OF AraRo's
graphic description. IL thelreseer would
experiences, perhaps once only in his life
time, the grand sensations inspired by this
r are astronomical event, he must take his
lburney this Simmer to tho line Of the cen
trail eclipse. Instead Of going TO Saratoga,
Newport, or Long branch, or In addition TO
these usual trips, perhaps, let him shape
his travels so that the afternoon of August
shall find him either at Springfield, Illinois
or at Shellbvville, Kentucky; or at Bristol,
Tennessee, or at X tleigh or Nswberu North
Carolina. A straight line drawn on any
good map Of the gnited States though the
fir-i aud last mentioned o:the above places,
will generally be- within the limits Of this
total phase.
To various points along the line Of the
central eclipse sci.ntic parties will go,
some sent by the United States Govern
ment, AMI some by private enterprises.
The ohjAct will be In part TO satisfy ration.
al curiosity, but chiefly to study certain
interesting problems relative TO the suns
physical constitution. We now know that
he sun is surrounded by an atmosphere
of flaming gas which is the principal source
Of the light be sends us. This incadesce ent
atmosphere is called by astronomers the
suu's pho'nsphere. Daring total eclipse
Of the SUI, his whole spere, including this
| photosphere, is covered and hid from view
by the interp1sed body Of the moon.
| Nevertheless, at the very crisis OF the cen
trail eclips e, there is seen brilliant white
corona or halo around the moons dark
BODY, like that which painters place around
the heads Of sints. In this corons, more
| over, ara frequently seen red or rose color
| ed projections, Of irregular form and POSI-
tion, around tho disc.
The explanation usually gwen OF the
| white corona 10 that II hetOkeus transpa'
rent, mon lumioous atm sphere, extending
| beyond the photosphere OF luminous atmos-
phere, analogous to our own atmosphere.
Toe white light Of the corona Is accounted
for by the reflection Of that of the photos
phere, very much as our own evening and
morning twilight is produced by the refec-
tion OF the solar rays In our atmosphere.
The irregu lar red masses seen projected
into the white corona may prove 20 he i'm
mense volumes Of thin cloudy smoke, or
solid vaporous particles precipitated from
the hot gaseous atmosphere which 'o-ms the
corons. Bot thers are various objections
TO these views. Nothing Is as yet drh1'tely
settled further obser vatious and discus
sion are needed to throw light on the
suns physical constitution. Ono OBJ
server with the spectroscope pronounces the
red or rose -colored projections TO be T cd hot
hydrogen. q.
The question OF an other planet or planets
within the orbit Of Mercury, rs sugs. sted
; by La Verrier, to account for certain ex
traordin,ry perturbstions Of this planet, re
mains also TO he settled. The total eclips'
Of the sun affords a good opportunity Il
search for the new planet Of planets.
For the grand effects of q total eclipse
on the surrounding scenery, the following
description by Mr., Hind Of that which h'
: observed on the 2Stb of July, 1881, may b.
! taken ms sample. He says /: "The aspec
! of nature during the total eclipse, wa'
grand beyond description. A dimnutior
Of light over the earth was pnrceptibls Z
quarter of an hour after the beginning o
!. the eclipse, and about ten minutes befor'
/. the extin ,tion or the sun the gloom ia
creased very perciptibly. The distant hill
= eoked dull and missy, and the sea assumes
y n dusky appearance, like that 1t present
a during rain. The daylight that rename
N had n yellowish tinpe, and the azure blu
! of the sky deepcned to a purplish-yiole
"a hue, particularly toward the North. Blu
It Notwithstanding these gradual changes, th
d observer could hardly be prepared for tn
"a wonderful spectacle that presented itse
" when he withdrew the eye from the ten
ID scop,, after the totality had come on,
10 gaze around him for q few seconds. Th
Of southern heavens were then of n uniforl
r purple gray color. the only indication Q
r. the suns position being the luminous core
OF m. the lieht Of which contrasted strikingl
al with that Of the surrounding sky. tn' til
k zenith and north OF il the heavens were
"a purplsh-violet. and appeared very neal
ID while in the north. west and north-eal
IN broad bands of yellowish- crimson igh
intensely bright, produced an effect whlc
es no person who witnessed II can ever forge
az The crimson appeared 10 run over lare
ot portions of the sky in these directions IL
- respective of the clouds. At higher alt
10 tudes the predominant color was purple
.. All nature seemed TO be over>hadowed |
~ hardly Wis BILE the sea turned lurid red
~ ~ and persons standing near the observer hi
pale, livid look. calculated to prod1
the most painful sensations. The darknes
NJ, il il can be 80 termed, had no resembian
ns TO that Of night. At various places with
Nm the shadow, the planets Venus, Mercur
q, and Mars, and the brighter stars Of the fiji
Ia. magnitude, were plainly seen during I
IRA total eclipse. Animals were frequent
II. much affec'e Cocks crowed at llelsin
OF borg, though the sun was only hidden the
IL. 80 seconds, and the birds sought their re-
,ht ing places as il night had come on"
In II would not be surprising if many
Fas the phenomena, which are usually pecuii
'ss 10 the total ase, should be generally {
Of served even in the partial phase Of
Ic- eclipse next month. For, though parti
in the eclipse is very large throughout
Pile United States. and the effects Of the SUI
all obscuration will be very much aided by
lch latoness in the day at which the grea;
Ine obscnration will take place About o'cl'
'he in the afternoon at and near this city. =
e's sibly something Of the corona may be Sc
IN" especially # we take pains to screen of {
oa' remaining bright crescent Of the sun.
n"' Tus INSTRUMENTS REQUIRED ron OBsER'
St TO-.
ieu Where nothing better can be had.
hsn OF plain glass, smoked over a candle
ssrs lamp, In some parts more deeply sha'
'eu than in others, to suit the varying intens
@ us OF tho suns rays during the progress OF
vi" , eclipse, will enable the observer TO see m
nj. OF the phenomena. In the city it will
,h', easy 10 procure pieces OF the red or ru
be tinted glass, Of different shades or dept
ira1 from most Of the glaziers, which may
ion used with advantage instead CT Ihe smo
glass. Those who can command 8
opera glass, or small Telescope Of any ki
,Pp' ,p provided with a shade glass 10 screen
". eye, wiilof course have better view.
'ha the regular Astronomical telescopes, pr
,rs erly mounted, and as can conveniently
ina transported TO the chosen place Of OBJ
lin, vation. will afford the hest means OF
lols tecting all the nice points Of the phenol
m ma The Government pa ties, sent on
a. ttona alauo a. tla limo ~ tha 4,