The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1870-12-22
TIE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Total CDzcurnticn OF the Sun
T0-Day, December 22.
Lire Of Observation in the Old Worla-Thc Pho.
nonleroa Net Visible in England or Amor
observation-disclosures Of Che Eavaus--Dark-
ness in 1859 and 1897.
DARKNESS or THE LuArINARY.

To-day (rhursday, December 22) as we have al.
ready announced IN the HERALD, the sun Will be
totally eclipsed at several points In tho south OF
Europe. No other opportunity Of Witnessing the
Imposing phenomenon OF q total eclipse Will occur
until the year 1857, ana then the circumstances will
not according to the calculations OF tho savans 10
nearly so favorable as on the present occasion.
THE LINE OF oBscufArIoN AND OBSERVATION
During the solar eclipse as the philosophers assure
US. tic line Of central and total phase commences
about 200 miles south OF Cape Farewell. the south
crn extremity OF Greenland; thence trayersing the
Atlantic ocean in souheastery direction IL enters
Europe on the coast OF Portugal, near Sardao
in the province OF Aicmoio, and passing
close TO Tavira, between Cadiz and Here's,
and nearly over Etepona, crosses tho Mcdi-
terranean and rcacnes the coast OF Algeria
west OF Oran; passing eight miles south or that
place the central eclipse IL most southery In latI-
tude 81 deg. % inin In the Longitude o. AgIers,
whence, slowly rising. 1t passes near Batna and
leaves the Anican Continent on the thirty sixth par
alel in tho direction of Sicily which island Is
reached IN latitude 81 deg the centre Of the shadow
leaving 1t about ten miles north Of Syracuse. Fur.
Their trAyelsng the Mediterranean. 1t ain lands OF
Previsa, on tho Galf OF Ara, and crossing Thessaly
the northern part OF the Archipelago the southwest
OF Roamelia, the Black sea, tho Crimca between
Dalaklya ana SebasgopoD ana the Sea or A2Of
ua!ly leaves the earth IN ,he south VI Russia near
Novo- Tclcrkask, the country Of the Don Cosaacks.
TIME.
The tine occupied IN describing this track is one
| hour and forty-slx minutes.
ZONE or TorALITY.
The breadth OF the z9le OF totally In Western
! Europe VIII be about one hundred miles. Seville Ii
30 nearly upon the calculated nortnern unit tnat Il
would not be easy TO predict the exact phase Which
Will be prevented IN trat city. aud observations
! taken there may possess much interest. Cape st
| Vincent and Gibraltar are well within the shadow
south OF the central ,.ne and he eclipse win also be
| total at Ceuta, on tho African coast. Malaga Is
| about midway between the central line and the
northern limit. At A8iers tho eclipse VIII be very
large, but not total and ut Tuns the san will be
reduced 10 an extremely narrow crescent, though
tolality, according 10 tho best prediction We can
witnesses o very large partial eclipse. Mount
Etna Is just within tho northern limls OF
totalfty; Syracuse south aDd Catana north or
the central linc and Cape Passaro, the southern
ope 10 rather north OF tno central line, while Con-
Hlantn0pie Is beyond the south border or the zone
OF totally, ana consequently large partial eclipse
only occurs there The central lne appears to pas3
about midway between Bailklayl auI lnEermann,
and tho whole position oi the allied armies before
CeOa3opOl VIII be involved IN the gloon of the toa
eclipse at twenLy-seyen minutes to four r. Nj local
time. the black moon beng about elght degrees
above the southwestern horizon. Ia, port OF
Taganroy ana Sovo-IcierkaSk are two VI the last
places 1T watch the total eclipse luay possibly be
VISIBLE
"REMINISCENCES or SCIENCE.
IL was at Noyo.lclefkaSk tiiat The Russian astroY.
omer Wlsliewski Obtained e hna giiinp5c Of the
out upol its unseen journey through space OF up
wards OF three thousand years.
MEAN TINE or DARKNESS.
me following are the calculated local mean tines
whea sunlight will disappear, aad the aalatloa OF
tO.iD.y Tor various places