The New York herald., 1870-12-10

/ lC Will De remarked, from the track above de-
scribed that Gibraltar Is the only British possession
an which the total eclipse can be Witnessed and as
anany observers may possibly be stationed there.
pew additional particulars, founded upon calcula-
tt0ns which have carefully made, may not be out
Df place. The first contact OF the moon with the
SUMS limb Tor The commencement or the partial
Hclipse) occurs at ten hours twenty-nine minutes
H0rty-Seyen seconds A. M mean time at Gibraltar,
nt.a point dty-nine degrees from the SUMS vertex
towards the west. The last ray sunshine vanisbes
lat eleven hours 1tyhve minutes fty-three seconds
"A. M, and the total eclipse continues till eleven
hours ffty-seven minutes fOrty-six seconds, or for
hOne minute flty-tnree seconds, which, though
much shorter duration than has occurred In several
recent eclipses, Is amply sufficient to enable OBJ
berver to fix the phenomena OF the totaity upon his
memory, as I.know from experience OF the eclipse
sDf july 1851, on the west coast OF Sweden, when
ymy position near Engelhom, the sun was obscured
fabout one minute orty-iye seconds only. The par
seaana, eps az H one s sGr M
Ehours hfty-six minutes fifty seconds A. NJ. mean
Elme, or eighteen hours fourteen seconds sIdereal
ftme, at Gibra ar the sun Will sbe nearly upon the
tmerldlan uhree minutes east at an altitude OF 80
kdeg. The principal planets win be thus situate
Mercury l6 deg east OF the suns centre and deg.
bDelow 1t; Venus, deg. east and nearly al the same
kaltltude Mars Just setting and Jupiter below the
st; his distance from the limb Of the dark moon is
fwo-thirds OF degree, at an angle OF 25 deg. from
Pine vertex OF the same towards the left or east;
isome OF the longer rays which have fire.
fquentIy been remarked IN the corona, though
hrobaDy beyond the more regularly outlined portion
Immediately encircling the moon; the breadth OF
hhIs portion, however has varied in different
6tar OF the nrst magnitude, in the constellation
AQuia, win have an altitude Of 54 deg. in azmuth
hs IL e1T "A % deg west % Of SOUTH or nearly
bouth- southwest, at an altitude OF 23 deg, and
kArcturus almost due west and 81 deg: above the
horizon These stars and probably others, it may
De expected. will be found without difficulty but
person observing total solar eclipse for
hractive occupation. The unnatural gloom;
the striking and beautiful celcrs displayed
other
Sons and objects around, and sother phenomena re-
peatecly witnessed on these occasions are pretty
Proach Of totsllty for the rushing Of the moons
SHADOW through the air; 1t Will pass Gibraltar from
about west northwest at speed of some thirty
miles per minute. 1t was certainly most notable
end in one description OF the eclipse Of August.
p860 in the United States the shadow IS mentioned
as asep going upwads from the westerns ee
horizon like dark curtain" Nevertheless, many
observers appear to have overlooked It altogether
(which can be Witnessed without mourning long
eea voyage from this country VIII be on the morn
kula OF Sinai In the map accompanying Professor
daaschka's ESense1atd Ecttpstunl the zone OF total
ty is drawn unusually broad, and covers the whole
3nrses from the moons semi-diameter having been
assumed one minute too great have recomputed
the circumstances OF this eclipse, determining the
lunar and solar elements from the tables Of Da-
lmoisseau and Carlini. Calculating for the geo.
&IdpulCAl hSSSucu w Iuo NouvcHu "a oaiiIa
Katerina on Sinai, find only large partial
ECLIPSE at that spot commencing at seven hours
Hwenty eight minutes A. NJ. and ending at ten hours
Hive minutes, mean time on Sinai, and obscnring
p9-l0ohs OF the SUMS diameter At the extremity OF
Sthe Peninsula, the entrance Of the Gulf Of Aka
bah an observer would be nearly on the line OF GEN.
kral eclipse, and the totality would continue one
minute twenty-five seconds. While the darkness or
khe total eclipse, therefore, involves the southern
portion of the Peninsula, the peaks OF the Sinaite
range Of mountains to the northward may be LIT up
lby sunlight.
The totality Of the eclipse of August 49, 1887 to
(which allusien has already been made, will end be-
amy note, upon or near to the central line, Is wilma,
fwhere the total eclipse, as ind by direct calcula-
tion, will continue two minutes fifteen seconds,
keconds A. NJ, local time but with the at ala
tude OF only 10 deg. Moscow will be near the
southern limit Of totality. am sir your most obe
dient servant J. r. HIND.
Mr.. BISHOPS OBSERVATORY, TwIoKENHAM