Evening star., 1877-12-29
The National Observatory.
METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA FOR ISIS
SEsTloS FOR NEW sILE or RAILRol
TIME-KEEPERS. ETC.

METEOROLOGICAL PHENOMENA FOR ISIS c.
6EsfloN FOR NEW sILE or RAILROAD
TtME-KEEPERs. ETC.
Every one who visits the Old Naval obserya-
tory is surprised that the government officers
engaged in such an important branch of ser
wee as astronomy should have 10 perform
their duties in such a dilapdated building
with unattractiye surroundings. The country
should assign to its astronomers. who have
worked hard and made important contribu-
tons TO science, at least a respectable and
nes.tthy workshop. The weather which We
nave had for some time paSt has more than
ever shone the necessity Of the removal of the
observatory from its present noNiOuS and oh
noNlouS surroundings, and il is hoped that
measures VIII soon be taken to secure a more
desirable site, lit makes little difference where.
Tor worse one cannot be found. and the cree
tion OF substantial building. E;.ch portion
o. the delicate work of the Observatory is uu-
der the personal supervision of Professor
VINO, win his assistants, keeps his respective
bFanciNell up. Prcp7 rationS are being made
TO nave the eclipses 81 other astronomical
Phenomena Of the coming year observed under
the most favorable circumstances. 20 aS la So
cnre the most successful results possible. In
1873 there viii be
FOUR ECLIPSES-
two of the sun and two Of the moon-and a
transit ot mercury over the suns disc Anan-
nular eclipse of the sun will take place on the
ID OF February, early i'm the morning. II viii
not he visible here. however. but Will be- seen
best AT points south of Australia A partial
eclipse of the moon will take place February
Il, about half-paSt O'Clock in the morning Ii
VIII be only partly visible here.
On the 18th Of July there Will be a total
eclipse OF the sun, which will he visible at
Washington, although not total The line of
total eclipse. Or totality viii extend from the
region OF the Gulf of Mexico i'm Northwestern
ly direction 10 Behring's Straits. and conSe-
quenlly points in Idaho will I've very favorable
lOf successful observations. II il intended IL
send 4 party of observers al mat time to that
region. ana ;hey will prOha bly he stationed al
Bismarck or forl Han. and the results of their
observations viii undoubtedly be- of great i'm
poriance. There will be- a partial eclipse of the
moon August Eth, about half-paSt seven
o'clock IN the morning. which viii he par,ly
visible al Washington. About slX-tenthS of the
moons surface will he eclipsed.
4 TRANSIT or MERCURY
over the suns disc viii take place on oh of
May, and will be visible from about ten O'Clock
in the morning until in the evening Ii can
be seen here very We'll hut 10y far the best
points of observation will be on the Pacific
coast, and parry will be stationed at San
Francisco tn make careful observations.
PLAN or IMPROVED RAILROAD CLOCKS.
Admiral Rodgers, the SupeTinteude of the
Observatory. has project tha; he is deyoling
considerable attention to-that of doing AWAY
20 certain extent, with the many mistakes
aud nconN enlcnceS which arise from the diff
terence IN local and railroad time His idea is
10 nave congress pass resolution which will
pots constructed with double pair of hands
one pair To mark the railroad time, which
shall be Washington time throughout the
country: and the other pair, different in color.
10 mark the local time: 50 tha. ut 4 glance
one can tell the different times without cOnfu-
sion. II this should he done. it is thought
probable that the public will follow The exam
PIE and have their clocks and watches con
stlucted on the " double barrel principle IL
would be comparatively easy Ia find A con
triyance Ia set the hands representing local
llme. irrespective of the other hands There
- another proposition. with the same end i'm
view, somewhat talked of in scientific circles
although II has not taken definite shape The
idea Is 10 lave the time the. same for all places
within t.!e distance that is represented by an
hours difference of longitude. which at this
latitude would he about $40 miles. Al any
place beyond that distance, however. The diff
ferance shall he one hour. For instance. take
ChicagOaS a central point. All places within
a distance OF i05 miles either west or east shall
have the same local time bat Oh the loneituIi-
nal belt beyond that-weSt or ea>t-;lfadiffer-
ence in time would be- just an hour either
faster or slower. according tn the direction.
-" according In This plan, if Washington time
We're used as railroad time. then the difference
between il and local time for other poil.tS
would be measured exactly by hours ANY
such plan will undoubtedly prove of great ben
eht and convenience To the travelling public if
narripu ont