The New York herald., 1874-10-26
$3.50 A. M.

prediction was plainly evident at the moment
when the eclipse became total.
AS uhe clock struck two the appearance was as
represented in the
PHOTOGRAPH, FIG. 8.
The bright streak gradually grew shorter. some
times disappearing entirely for nearly half @ min.
ute, UNTIL at %. 03m., 1t finally disappeared and
the sky was perfect blank. The predicted time
OF disappearance was one minute later; but as at
Rntnerford's observatory the disappearance was
also noted at 2h o3m 1t is probable that the total
1ry commenced fraction OF minute earlier than
predicted in the Nautical Almanac.
Expecting the haze to increase in my locality as
the morning approached did not wait Tor the
moon to reappear / consequently failed to make
the astounding astronomical discovery depicted In
the
PHOTOGRAPH. FIG. s.
namely, that the moon itself has satellite 400
| miles In diameter, about as large as o large
teroid, which was making its transit across the
face OF It's primary at 3h. lem. l am afraid,
however, that like Lescarbaut's intra- Mercurial
planet only by himself upon the suns disk this
new discovery will remain long time unverifed.
or course, no one win ever suspect, especially
after examining the beautifully engraved series of
diagrams contained in the HERALD or Thursday,
Saturday and sunday, that this new satellite OF
the second order
As deas have lesser feas to bite 'em,
And so proceed ad ilfnitun,
the first discovery OF the kind in the history Of
astronomical research-could have been created
by an accident OF the printer.
During my observations Of the moon this MORN
ing was iorcibly reminded OF al accidental omis-
sion in my letter published in the
HERALD OF SATURDAY.
omitted to mention, in speaking OF the effect Of
the earth's atmosphere. that this is the cause Of
the dmness, or want OF definition OF the edge Of
the earth's shadow seen upon the moon. With a
clear sky this indistncness is not so great as to
prevent observing with considerable degree OF
accuracy the times when the shadow passes over
certain points upon the moons surface; but in
this instance, very shortly after the commence
ment OF the eclipse, there were moments when,
in the telescope, the boundary line appeared to
extend inward almost to the opposite limb.
1t may not be unworthy OF mention that at the
time OF the total eclipse the planet Neptune was
only about one degree. or twice the moons dame
ter, southwark from the moons limb so that, had
the sky been clear, we might have seen, almost
without moving the telescope, the nearest and
the most distant members OF the solar system.
HENRY M. PARKHURST
NEW YORK. Oct. 25. 1874.
Mr. d. c. Chapman's Compliments.
NEW YORK. Oct. 25, 1874.
To THE EDITOR OF THE HERALD:-
! read carefully and with great interest your
account OF the moon eclipse OF October 25 1874
and permit me to say that l was surprised at
the accuracy with which the article was pre-
pared. l regret that as the photographs
were as perfect when they lett the hands
OF Mr.. L. M. Rutherford as 1t was possible to
make them. that no mention OF his name was
made in your paper. am sorry not to nave been
able to have furnished your representative with
any spectroscopic observation, owing to the wa
terry atmosphere; but rs have stated above, your
account was as complete and correct as it was
possible to obtain under existing circumstances.
| Respectfully, d. G. CHAPMAN.
| The Moons Eclipse AS Seen on the Pa
ci6c Coast.
SAN FRANCISCO, Oct. 25, 1874.
! The eclipse OF the moon last night was visible
through the most Of the phases. but the dense fog
! very heavy rain commenced and sim continues.
The Eclipse In Canada.
TORONTO, Ont, Oct. 25 1874.
! The eclipse OF the moon last night was not
| viewed to advantage here, clouds intervening
| after the total eclipse commenced, ana not open.
| ing until after 1t had terminated. A beautiful
I yellow halo surrounded the moon after the first
contact with the penumbra whenever the clouds
| came across Its circumference The sky was all
the time thickly covered with clouds OF the kind
| known as "cirrus.n
| MTCDnlC\NlNn TUE MAN M TIE Isnnu