Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1878-07-20
The Solar Eclipse of July Goth.

Not only the scientists attached TO the va
rious branches OF the government but other
astronomers, have made elaborate arrange
ments for exact obs rvations of the total
eclipse OF the sun, which takes place On the
29th instant-Monday week. Professor Simon
NewcOmb,, who is in charge of the nautical
almanac, has for some time been busily en-
gagged in preparing for the event, and prior to
his leaving for Wyoming territory, caused to
be published comprehensive pamphlet show
ing the course OF the eclipse, and giving sug,,
geStlOnS respecting its observation. Total
eclpseS OF the sun are so rare at any one point
on the earth's surface, that in view of the op-
poftunlty Ihey offer R for studying the attend;
ant phenomena the United States has utilized
its resources for research by sending its most
eminent astronomers to favorable points in
the west to take observations. Professor New
rtory; Professor Todd to % Texas, sa and % %PFofes les
sors Hall, Harkness and Holden to Colorado.
Dr; cd1p, Draper, OF Of New M York city, has also gone
SOD, Of electric fame. In Wyoming, Color
ado, British America and Havana, the eclipse
will be total the period of observation lasting
about three minutes. The shadow of the moon
Irkoutsk, Siberia. Its course will at first be
eastnortheast, but will gradually change to
east, and after leaving Asia to southeast, it
will cross Behring's Straits in an easterly di-
rection, pass little northeast of Sitka, cross
the British possessions toward the southeast.
and enter the United States in $50 west of
over the western end of Montana territory,
the Yellowstone National Park, Wyoming ter
ritory, Denver, Col, and northern and eastern
Texas, entering the Gulf of Mexico between
New Orleans and Galveston, and from thence
pass over most of the Island of Cuba and south
ern San Domingo. The breadth of the shadow
will be about ll6 miles.
The period of total observation, full three
minutes. could be best observed in British
America but in view of the inaccessibilty OF
that place our government has sent, no expe-
IvH Hr1Irn al INtl tl,,n
period will be about two minutes and half,
and in Texas and Havana about two minutes
THE ECLIPSE AS SEEN AT WASHINGTON.
Although there will be no total observation
there will be partial eclipse visible in Wash
ington. About eight .digits will be eciipsed,
as seen from here, or about twOthirds OF the
suns surface. 1t will begin about five o'clock
in the afternoon and continue until nearly
sundown, or to quote from the Nautical Al
manac,' it will begin at SO and end at 6:25.
THE EXPEDITION SENT OUT BY THE GOVERN
MENT.
The expenses of the government expeditions
are paid out of an $500 appropriation made
by Congress. The government expedition is
dIvlVed into five parties under the command
OF the professors of mathematics in the U. S.
navy. Professor S. NeWcOmb with party con-
sisting of Commander w: S. Sampson, Lieut..
CD. Bowman and John Meier will be at Cres-
Rogers, Prof. a. W. Wright, Mr.. j. F. Gard.
ner and A. B. Wheeler will be stationed at
Pueblo Prof. William Harkness, Lieut.. E.W
Sturdy, Assistant Astronomer A. N. Skinner,
Messrs: 1: E. Walker, Alvan G. Clark and
Prof. O. 81. Robinson will be near Prof. New
comb on the Union Pacific railroad. Prof. j.
r. Eastmast, Prof. Lewis Boss, of the Dudley
observatory, Assistant Astronomer I'll. NJ.
near Prof. Hall. Prof. E. S Holden, Dr. c. S.
Hasting and Lieut.. T. w. Verey will be near
Denver. Mr.. l.. TrOuvelot, well known to
science as skillful artist, will make draw
ing OF the corona at Rawlings, Wyoming. Mr..
G: W. Hill, Of the Nautical Almanac office,
Prof. Ormond Stone, of. the Cincinnati OBJ
ServatOry, Mr.. WinSlOw Upton. Of Cambridge
will observe the eclipse from elevated points
in Colorado, while General Myers and Prof
Peak, which viii probably also be occupied 5 VI by
tory Mr.. D. f. Todd viii be Stationed in
Texas. So much for the parties sent out de-
pending wholly or in part, upon the U. S. Naval
Observatory for aid.
PRIVATE EXPEDITIONS
information concerning the private parties
is not SO available, but it seems that DR.. Henry
Draper, Of New York, with his staff, will occu-
py point near Rawlings; Prof. C. A. Young,
ton, Will probably go TO some point near Der
yer, where also Miss Maria Mitchell, of Vassar
College, expects to observe the eclipse. The
party which occupies, Fort Worth, Texas, has
among its members Mr.: r. W. Wilson, OF Har-
yard College; Prof. j. X. Rees, of Washington
University, st. Louis; Mr. +. E. Seagraye of
Providence; and Mr.. Leonard Waldo, of Har-
ward College Observatory. Most of the astron-
0mers above named have already left for the
scene Of their labOrS.
EUROPEAN OBSERVERS.
1t is not known who of the European astron.
omerS have been sent out to make obServa
tlonS. The only ones who have yet arrived in
french astronomer Jansen, and Mr.. Locky
of England,