The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1871-01-23
Professor Harkness' Report,

Copy OF preliminary report made by Professor
William Hardness, U. s. NJ, on the eclipse OF Decem-
ber y, lS10:-
Commodore B. F. SANDS. U. s. N, superintendent
SRI have the honor TO submit the following re-
port OF my observations made at Syracuse, Sicily
on the total solar eclipse OF the 22d inst -
Our latitude and longitude observations, together
with the necessary EMANCIPATION TO connect our OBJ
serving statlon In the north bastion al the Prima
Porta TezZa with the principal buildings in the city,
were all completed some days before the cell sc.
The necessary observations to determine azimuth
and magnetic variation were also made. Up 10 De-
cemDer 70 the weather was very fine, the sky being
clear and the atmosphere calm: out that day the
the sky became cloudy. Sometimes the clouds were
IN detached masses sometimes they covered the
Whole heavens and sometimes the sky was clear
This state OF things still continues, although the
barometer has begun TO rise again. However, on
the 2lst and ed was able to get excellent observa
lions for time, SO that our preparations tor the
eclipse were all completed In the most satisfactory
manner.
cinity OF the sun was perfectly clear and observed
the nrst contact at Ill., 35m. 275 As the eclipse
advanced l looked carefully Tor the bright line
which was shown In such a marked manner along
the edge OF the moons limb in the phOtOQrapns
taken at Des Moines last years but although the ded
milton In my telescope was excellent, and used
botn red and neutral tint-shade glasses could not
see any trace OF 1t TIL l2h. sm, when iancied
avery narrow bright line, but am not by any means
sure that such a line really existed.
About l2h. 20m l attached the spectroscope to my
telescope and made all the necessary adjustments
Tor It's use during totaty. Fifteen minutes before
the ttalily dense cloud came over the sun and mid
varying from three to ve and in any exposed situ-
alton II was impossible to stand steadily. My tele.
scope was sheltered by the parapet Of the bastion
but 1t was far from being steady, AMI when tried
to light my lanterns found that 1t impossible 10
do 50, even IN the most sheltered place. therefore
assigned to use, and lit them there. In carry
Ing them to the telescope OF them was blown
out, but by crouchin9 down behind the parapet and
sheterinG 1t win our bodies, my friend, Captain G.
L. Iupman, y NJ. A., and l managed to light 1t
the specroscope 10 Illuminate the micrometer SCALE
II was now within less than five minutes OF the
totally, aud, fortunately, the cloud over the Sun
was fast becoming less dense. Presently o thin
crescent, which was all That remained of the
sun, became visible. This dwinded rapidly
away, and H. lis, observed the commencement OF
totaiity with the naked eye. The cloud was SUM-
ciently thin to allow the to be seen through
It, but OF course 1t was much diminished both Ia
extent and brilliancy and do not think il was
more than one-half or two-thrds large as that
which saw in Des Moines last year. l had an
Arago polarlscope In my hand aud spent the first
ten seconds OF the eclipse IN examining the Sun
with IL III manner which VIII explain fully in my
final report IL showed very distinctly that the sky
was poarzed all around the corona, but ehe corona
Itself showed no trace OF polarization Next l
sprang TO the spectrOscope, and Captain Tupman
kindly directed IL to the corona by means OF the
finder attached to the telescope j at once saw a
green line but the wind had blown out tue lantern
which Illuminated the microneter scale, and IN
order 10 determine the position OF the
line | seized the second lantern, which had
been put IN sheltered place and was still
burning, held it TO the spectroscope, glanced In,
and saw that The reading was about the same as
found II at Des MONIES last year; but before could
determine 1t accurately the wind blew this lantern
out Also and was deprived OF all means OF making
exact measures. Captain Tupman now directed the
spectroscope TO many different parts OF the corona,
ana wherever the light WAS sufficiently bright TO
show anything saw the same green line. Once I
saw two other 1aner green lines oil less degree OF
refrangioitg, wD.c1 tiink belong TO the corona;
ont Of that am not certain. During the last few
seconds OF the totally the thin cloud covering the
sun became nearly isspated and the FAINT con-
tlnuous spectrum OF the corona which saw at Des
Moines became visible. but before had time TO OK
evidence OF the chrononomeer Il could scarcely De.
lIeve that 1t had lasted los seconds. II seemed to
me but moment, and felt lar from satisfied with
what had accomplished.
The nigh wind and the thin cloud over the Sun
placed Inc at great disadvantage, and prevented
Inc rom doing much that would have been within
my grasp under more favorable circumstances.
Still, think the observations prove beyond all
question that the corona does belong TO The Sun;
that 1t Is TO great degree, If not entirely self
luminous, and that Its light does give green line
at ABOUT 1,474 divisions OF Kirchhons scale, thus
confirming the discovery made independently by
myself aud Professor Young during the eclipse OF
August, 1853. My observation with the polariscope
also goes TO prove that the light from the corona is
not polariZed. |
FIVE minutes after the totalty was over the sky
In the vicinity Of the Sun became perfectly clear,
s Wick sYs sBssf1 ~ ~ ill., Ss q " "; sen!se
4EFoggaa9pt Wis his report all records Of time arc
gwen as read from the face OF my mean time chro-
n0meter, 1. r. q =. ID. Negus, No. l,1l5 which was
approximately H. I'm 45s. slow OF syracuse local
mean-time.
In conclusion cannot omit to call your attention
to the very great courtesies which have been ex.
tended to the party by the Italian government and
particularly by the Royal Project OF the Province Of
Syracuse, who did everything In his power to pro.
mote the success Of the expedition and to render
our stay 70 Inc caeL city OF hisprovnce agreeable
WILLIAM HARDNESS,