The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1872-02-03
THE SOLAR ECLIPSE.
Results OF the
[ntlc at CeyIOn.

Results OF the Observations Made at CeyI0n.
From the Ceyl0n tE. ~ Observer, December 1S7l.l
Ali the stations occuniea nv Inc sc,eni,nc narty
under Mr. L0ckyer's direction. as well as by NJ.
Jansen. Important scientific results may be ex-
peeled TO be shortly male known Indicated IN
the message from Mr.. Lockyer.
Here. In Colombo. the weather during the event.
full morning was all that could be desired, but being
beyond the line oil toiatty and shadow, no special
scientific vane can be attached to the highly later
esting observations made here bv several gentle-
men. Our columns tnls time will be found TO be un-
usually full OF Information respecting the eclipse
and the special expe'litlon sent from home 10 OBJ
1t. Aoout three ana half inches OF ram fell
in Colombo between p. M. OF the lllh ana A. NJ.
We add the results of local observations
sun rose obscured by clouds, which cleared or
at about $50. Inc whole surface OF the sun pre-.
scented the usual Stripped broken appearance, with
here and there large and small spots In the neigh
borhoOd OF these spots the stripping was more ap.
came out IN bold relle the part OF the sun close
to the moons limb. Probably this increase Of dis
tlnctness was caused by The contrast OF The black
spot &C., Of the dark III b OF tue moon. 1hls could
not be seen through the three inch Telescope. some
was visible around the sun. which gave place to
short bright ravs 1his latter appearance was proba
bly, an ocular deception, as no trace OF was visible
through the Tour and hall inch telescope under
a low power. At the greatest observation no trace
OF corona was observable through the same insiru-
ment, with solar eyeD1ece with power Of about
thirty. THIS was carefully looked for. The unob-
scured portion OF the sun, about 15-l6ths OF It's
disc, was well defined, without aDpendages Of
anv kind. Towards the lime OF centrally the DIM
mutton OF dayiignt was very conspcurus-going
from the omen air into the house It was very strk-
ing. standing In the centre OF the room and look
ing through the Omen window the sunshine outside
was Of a neutral tint.
The crows commenced to assemble on the tree
tops, cawng after their usual fashion when prepar
| Ing Tor their nlgh q rest.
The planet Venus, high In the SKY, was distinctly
visible TO the naked eye, ana Jupiter, low down III
| the western horizon. was plainly discernlbe with
the ad oil an opera glass. The thermometer at the
commencement OF the eclipse Indicated 81 4 degrees
In the sun. Az 7:l5 II showed rise OF 21s degrees
and at Inc greatest phase 10 had 1alen TO S41s de.
grees. In the shade II stood at 1915 at GAS, and al
the greatest observation, at 70 degrees It 9.10
with the iull blaze OF the then uhObscured sum- the
thermometer indicated lib degrees; III the sha lie 81
degrees. Mr.. Van bort, or the Surveyor Generals
Department, with IDe AID oil a 3-lnch telescope,
| power so, made some careful drawings oil
| &c take the time OF first contact and the
| ending or the eclipse proved aDortive. An
ordinary watch was The only tImekeeper ut
hand. instruments used In the above oDserva-
uons:-Equatorlal telescope, tour and a nall inches
clear aperture, sIxty-sx inches local length Tele-
scope, three inches clear aperture, fory-two inches
focal length. mounted on tripod stand.
The above indicates the result or observations
taken 10y Mr. STAN Orfh Green, ut his residence IN
Colpetty. Mr.. Sro1dart, OF the surveyor Generals
Once took OBSERVATIONS at tne local observatory,
showing the actual Time to be-
n. NJ q.
Last W ~
Mr.. W. L. II. Skeen took some very successful
Photographic views, which show no. only the pro-
gress OF The eclipse but the direction aud form OF
the huge rays, projected from the sun or It's corona
30 much talked Of