The New York herald. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1840-1920, 1878-07-30

'SS'sk noo'nson practisos win the smaier camera,
which has large double image prism mounted
before Dailmeycr rapid rectinear lens
OF about twelve inches focus, the whole
being arranged 10 register pbotograpaicaIIy
This is thought to be matter OF considerable mpor-
lance. because sesnnnc men by no means In &C
cord as to what these phenoasna actually are Profes
sor Harkness' own instrument is tnrse-inch tele.
scope armed with powerful spectrosceps, to which
has been added huorescont eye piece kindly lent by
Mr.. Lockyear, the we'll known English physicist.
This apparatus will DO used for investigator tho ultra
violet spectrum OF The corona and promineuces, and
In its management the Professor viii be assisted BY
Lieutenant Sturdy.
At quarter past two O'Clock time signals are re-
ceved by telegraph from the Allegheny Observatory.
and al halipast four sextant observations again
made 10. local. Soon after this practice closes for
the day and at SIX supper is served. There is not
much variety In camp cookery and the menu of this
meal scarcely differs from that OF breakfast Alter
supper most OF the party take little stroll BY way
OF constitutional, and at O'Clock tho evening
tho days work Is concluded by tho exchange Of
tesgrsphic longitude signals with Professor Stafford,
who Is stationed at the United States Engineer OBJ
servatory at Ogden. By ton O'Clock everybody is
tired out and each mau wraps himself In his army
blanket and lies down upon tho buffalo robe which
serves as his couch. Sheets are unknown, but the
steady work during the day and tho cool, refreshing
air OF the night fails bring that rspose
for which city residents sigh in vain during the tor
car at Cresten is not wholly unbroken, for at two
o'clock in the morning the thunder OF tho mail train
coming in from the distant Atlantic States always
arouses some Of tho sleepers, and at least one OF
them tumbes out OF bed rscsve the wished for let
tiers from home.
Amid the routine just described tho time sped
rapidly by, every moment being fully occupied, and
ono day being just except that the weather.
which was bad at first. steadily improved. This morn
ing the temperature was down TO 4s degrees, not
cloudless sky. Everything promised we'll for the
eclipse, and far transparent atmosphere IL con-
cerned that promise has been kept; but un-
fortunately before breakfast over tho wind began
to rise and gradually increased in violence till the
aitcrnoen, whom 1t blew a perfect gale. This how
ever made little difference to the astronomers, be-
cause Creston has the reputation Of being windy
place, aud enectual been taken to prevent
the instruments from being disturbed. Dinner was
over at twelve o'clock and every man bsook himself
instruments. The wind blew ncrcsly but few extra
shelters suficed TO place the instruments under
almost perfect protection and the sky eloudlsss
ECLIPSE.
At four hours and two minutes, washinrton time.
everyone had hts eys to his telescope. and Mr. Rex.
road AGENT began and count seconds
from the chronometer. Tho predicted time Of nrst
contact was four hours, three minutes and nine
tenths, Washington time. bat that passed. and second
after second elapsed until four hours, tour minutes
and forty-two seconds was reached. and theu tho
showed itself, just beginning 20 eat into tho
edge Of the sun After this the telescopes aban.
doned ami attention was directed to the photo.
graphic and spscsroscopic apparatus, somo Of
uso of the telescopes for observing the nrs. contact
A half hour sufleed to place everything In perfect
ordsr. and the beginning OF tstality was anxiousy
awaited. Al i've hours fifteen minutes aud seventeen
body worked II for their livos. Tho darkness was
like that Of deep twilight, and the beauty Of the
corona Was enchanting. but there no time to
pay attention sucn things Professor Hardness,
assisted by Lieutenant Sturdy, searched BY ultra
violet limos in the spectrs Of the crom osphsrs
for prominences. but found none. He used a spec.
troscope proviasd With one Of Mr. Rutherford's
magnificent drraction sratings having 1896 lines
70 the inch; but such instruments, although very
powerful aud giving excellent. definition, arc known
to possess less light than prism spectorscopss ADD
whether tho failure observe any ultra violet lines
was due TO this cause the fact tina, the cremo-
sphere was to-day exceedingly thin and the prom
inences being faint can only be determined by CON-
pairing notes with othor observers
rHE EQUATORIAL GAMMA
Messrs Clarke and skinner worked maufulIy with
tho equatorial and carried the programme
for II most successfully. SIX bromide emulsion dry
plates were exposed and there is NO DOUBT that they
will give excellent pictures. but they will no, DO
developed for three days II is not possible to
describe them at present. Tho last plate IVES In
tended to be exposed three seconds but before that
time had elapsed the burst out and tho exposure
had 10 be abruptly terminated. Professor Robinson
exposed four dry plates with poIar,soopic camera
and It Is believed that they viii do much settle the
vexed question OF tho real character Of the posrscs.
ton Of the corona
Mr. Truvclct and his son made splendid sketch Of
the corona which, by tho way, did disappear from
their vision for three minutes and twenty-five SECONDS
sitcr the temperance Of the sun. No person was