Staunton spectator. [volume] (Staunton, Va.) 1849-1896, 1878-07-30
The Eclipse.

The Eclipse.
The eclipse yesterday evening was
watched for with smoked glasses, and
all the orher appliances of modern sci
ence, but owing 20 The clouds which
ehsc1red the sky it was Impossible to
see the darkening OF the Sun, OF any
thing else that look ed like an eclipse
We have no doubt that the eclipse took
place according to the programme as
before arranged by the astronomers, but
of this We have no ocular proof.
Relsw we give what the baltimore
Sun says We might have seen and what
we have seen heretofore, and we hope
our readers will be satisfied with that !.
Solar eclipses occur at the time of
new moon, or when the moon is be-
tween the sun and the earth. If at the
time of mean new moon the difference
between the mean longitudes of the sun
aea saa i KS Bsa So + gsateF !Ran s
than this, there may be; and if less
than .ae So, there must be. These dis
tdShCCS dlC CSSltS| INV eOlQt Httt
They are greater than the lunar ecliptic
limits, and hence eclipses Of the sun
are more frequent than those of the
% #Sieb lhs ri IlJ aiEEs g If gagasss B.
umbra fails the eclipse is total; to those
from which only portion of the solar
disk is concealed it is partial; and the
dimunition Of the suns light over these
regions defines what is called the pc
numhra, or partial shadow. The great-
eet breadth Of tle npants true Shadow
on the eaFths surface never exceeds 1877
miles; the breadth OF the penumbra
may reach 1900 miles. At the time of
new moon, or when the moon is between
tn sun and the Garth, her shadow or pc
nnmbra may fall on part of the disk
Of thP earth aha produce the flsnoMe-
non of total or partial eclipse of the
sun, which is limited TO the portions of
the earth on which the moons shadow
or penumbra happens to fall, but the
shadow of the moon does not extend so
far as the earth. The largest number of
eclipses of both sun and moon which
can occur in any one year is seven. of
which ave Wilt or the sun AMI two Of
the moon. The smallest number posi-
bic in one year is two, both of which
Will he OF the sun.
A total eclipse of the sun is an
impressive phenomenon, anG was
regarded by the ancients as very por-
tentious, supernatural and alarming
event. The Christians of the Dark Ages
offered formal prayers in order to avert
the occurrence of the eclipses. Even
brute animals are iilled With dismayy by
the lurid gloom or peculiar twilight of a
total eclipse, during which the temper
allure of the air sinks rapidly. The du-
ration of an eclipse is usually only
about three or four minutes, but may
extend to eight. 4 total eclipse Of the
sun was visible in some parts of the
United States August 7, 1869, the dura-
ton of which was 2 minutes AZ seconds.
The corona-which is true solar an
pendage-of this eclipse is thus describ-
ed by person who observed it: "On
looking up one of the grandest specta-
cles met the eye of which it is possible
to conceive. Surrounding the dark body
of the moon was crown of light, with
rays shooting cut in five great sheaths
to distance equal to the sun g diameter,
or nearly million of miles. We gazed
for eight or ten seconds with astonish.
ment at this magnificent spectacle No
painting can represent it and no pen
can describe it," The peculiar pheuome-
IA which have attracted so much atten
ZION IN solar ecllpSeS are only visible
during the brief period of totality. The
difficulty of observing them lies in this
exceeding brevity, aud in the fact that
however much the observer may have
studied the experience of others. the
phenomena come upon him as surprise.
Inc moment that the last raw of LIGHT
disappears with the extinguishment of
Bailly's beads there bursts upon him
vision so marvelously beautiful, so start
ling by its novelty, that his seif-posses-
sion and self control desert him.
No one who has not seen q total |
eclipse can fully appreciate the grandenr
of the occasion. AS the light, ray by raw
is cut off strange and ghaslly darkness
comes down upou us, not like the dark
ness of night, but violet colored dark
ness, which makes the faces of our neigl, !
bors turn ashy pale, and gives to the
landscape the hues which it takes in a
picture. A total eclipse &C.
ours very unfrequently at any one place
No total eclipse was visible from London
from ll4O to Ills. period of 575 years.
The occurrence of eclipses at the exact
time stated by astronomers is full de.
monstratien of the constancy and accu.
racy of the laws of nature and of the un.
1eviating punctuality with which her
grand operations are performed. Great
Importance has heretofore been attached
o spectroscope and polariscope obserya
ions of the suns envelopes and coronal
during solar eclipses. It has
'een found recently practical, however
o make such observations quite as salts.
actorily when the body is entirely un.
'bscured. These observations have al.
eady added much to our knowledge of
be physical condition and chemical con.
titution Of our great central luminarv
nd there is reason to expect that in
oming years they will be still more |
fruitful in interesting discovery. /,