New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1871-12-05
THE LAST SOLAR ECLIPSE.
OBSERVATIONS MADE By oRDEH OF THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT.

OBSERVATIONS MADE By ORDER OF THE NAVY
DEPARTMENT.
The reports on 0bservataons conducted under
the direction Of Rear-Admiral f. Sands, supenntend
emit Of the United States Naval Observatory at Washing
ton upon the total solar eclipse Of December 1870
Issued from the Government Printing Office The officers
Of the observatory detailed by the Navy Department for
these observations were Profs Simoni Newcomb,
Asaph Hall, william Hardness and J. r. Eastman Tho
three lasnamed officers proceeded to Sicily to occupy
convenient points Syracuse; Prof Hall to
observe the corona Prof Hardness spectral analysis
Prof Eastman with pOarizng and meteorological instru
ments Prof Newcombs station Gibraltar, and
aside from general observations the eclipse and the
corona he was detailed take measurements with ref
erence to the path Of tine center OF the shadow the
earth 60 obtain data for tho correction Of lunar
tables.
Prof NewcomlJs method Of observation for the pur-
fallen into Complete dcsucude 1t is founded on the &c
ometrical tcore that the limo Joining the cnsns OF The
ns the scnters Of the sun, and moon that the angle Of
position Of the latter line can be Immediately inferred
or less by clouds and drizzlins prevented the
Of the Instruments until few minutes before the eclipse
have been fairly successful and 70 have determined
small error iTansen's lunnr tables The corona ar;
With that a being destitute Of the SLIGHTEST trace Of
al soft S
There were indeed, great differences OF brancy at az
oSor by ensbe sraatons The potuIeraSees
The eastern limb the numerous and brilliant,
appearance Of structure whih assuming ny fantastic
forms - - .., -. A..
sC ws as eods Prof. a the appear
Of the corona in terms similar to those Of Prof
the south western point Of the moon there pparenty
IN th 70 as
point, H. several delicate streamels shoot down TO
the # ea Of tn The ac
IN the center surrounded with narrow rim OF
SoS1s tS T
and hey these extended the white corona. the whole
able appearance in tho telescope at the beginning OF
sepse. when "ths pE.Seransss aa.,sd Quickly
and an apparent Dingne of the red and white light that
MAS very striking" He regards it, however, as an
TIE observations Of Prof harkncss with the polari
and s xs 4ns IRON the xn o
terms SUCCESSFULLY at critical when he was read
ing ns Pfoi r. n " sa 1
physics He concludes thai the bright line seen along
potoSrap1s Of cciipses, is merely chemical eject pro-
duced In developing she photograph. and has no real
S sne1 aas tn The ssa1 part: IL
aSsSnteis continuous; SPECTRUM: crossed ystnSis
bright line whose Ts7ssugn is S miiSnth; OF
from the sun the light gradually vanishes the continuous
san ana the sss
srsc.am are probable D%s not certainly
those parts Of the corona that are nearest the oIt
g S ps:sS shss
ct great lensh h. rsssons for h. belief he snmna-
corona is purely solar phenomenon produced vast
body OF sefluminous gasnot inprobably ncandescent
from Il in the same manner ~ the rcd promnsscss
Prof Eastman describes the with great
Ss form * The end
tally vas preeeded sn tnersasips glow near the