The Cincinnati daily star. [volume] ([Cincinnati, Ohio]) 1875-1880, 1878-08-08
THE RECENT ECLIPsE.
Return of Prof. Stone, Of the Cincinnati
Observatory.
A Short Account of His Observations
at Denve', Col.

Prof 0rmond Stone, of the Cincinnati
Observatory, returned last Monday evening
from Denver, Colorado whittier he had
gone with Prof Winslow Upton, of the Har-
ward Observatory; Prof. lngersol of COlum-
bia College, and President Alsop of Haven
fort College, Pa, to make observations of
the recent eclipse of the sun.
A STAR reporter interviewed the gentle
man yesterday and learned the following:
The Professor was stationed eight miles
east of Denver in a ranch near the railroad
station at Schuyler, owned by gentleman
named Schofield. The latter generously
allowed them the use of one of his sheds
1t was at once cut up and adopted to the
purpose of the party.
For the first few days they were engaged
in cutting holes in the sides and roof of the
shed and fixing their instruments. This
took some time, as great care had to be
taken to have everything in its exact posi-
tion
The reason for their going to this ranch
was that the weather was more suitable for
their observations, as it is generally cloudy
at Denver. They were fortunately situated
near the "Denver Base, which had been
carefully measured by the Coast Survey.
Knowing their latitude and longitude,
the distance from the east end of the base
was soon found They then established
themselves at the east end of the base, which
is six miles long. BY this they avoided the
mountain on the west and had clear field
for observations.
Three equatorial instruments and several
for observing the time were set up.
The weather for some time previous to
the eclipse was cloudy, especially had it
been so during the mornings. Luckily on
the day of the eclipse it was the reverse, be-
ing bright and lovely. There was not a
cloud on the mountains and none over the
face of the sun. Had this not been the case
partial observations only could have been
made.
Professor Stone and his assistants noted
the first contact their instruments being in
splendid order. They also noticed the last
of the contact, when the moon left the sun.
The time of totality was two minutes and
twenty-five seconds.
Professor Upton, of Harvard College, in
the meantime took transcripts of the Cusps,
and measured the distance between them
to find the center of the moon with regard
to its relation to the center of the sun.
| During the totality of the eclipse every one
in the party studied the structure of the
corona.
At this time the darkness was intense.
Nothing of the suns disc was TO be seen.
At the north edge of the moon large num-
Der Of rays were seen, which seemed to
come from the center of the orb. In no
instance did single one of the rays di-
yulge from the sun perpendicularly. They
all bent, and either curved to the east or
west. The same was the case with the
southern part of the corona, These rays
were the brightest
The strangest feature of the corona was
that on the eastern and western side. This
was totally in opposition to the above The
rays which were immensely fainter than
those of the north and south of the corona,
expanded further out, something in the
shape of an eipse. None of them were
separate, but all interlaced each other. 1t
was a fine sight: the darkness caused by
the moon and then the light rays of the
corona setting off the whole. As seen
through the telescope, protuberanCe was
noticed on the moon toward the northwest.
The color OF the corona was something like
orange.
Professor Huffman, during these obser-
vations, had spectroscope strapped to the
telescope and pointed it in the same direc-
ton. He carefully watched the lines in
the instrument until the light disappeared
row. He kept up his observations until
the so-called & band was very family re-
versed. He then attended to the corona
and arrived at the same results as Professor
Stone. Professor Upton's report agreed in
all the minuti@ with the above.
Each part of the moon was examined. In
few seconds towards the end of the total
ity the party noticed Frightening which
gradually increased. They then were of
al -, +l,o ,l, l,nl i
but they did not feel sure of it. Next,
through the spectroscope they saw the re:
versing" larger. -Four or five seconds after
this Frightening very brilliant point ap-
peared on the moon little to the north
west, and then they knew that the totality
of the eclipse was ended. Their attention
then, of course, was directed to the corona,
which was distinctly seen for twenty three
and half seconds After this the field be-
came so bright that it could be observed no
longer.
Professor Upton, through his telescope.
watched not only the corona but also the
edge of the moon against it and saw it a
number of minutes before and fully five
minutes afterwards
The importance Of these observations is
the discovery that the. rays which had
hitherto been considered as emanating in
straight lines, are now known to be curved,
either west or east according to the side of
the sun. None of the photographs taken
show them to be otherwise.
The party, previous to the eclipse, had
carefully observed the time, both on Satur-
day and Sunday, and in addition to the sig
nails from their own instruments, had some
from Washington.
The expenses incurred by these observa-
tions are borne by the Naval Observatory,
which donated IS, 900 for this purpose.