The morning star and Catholic messenger., 1878-07-28


river where the eclipse 10 visible from s:4o to
$40 p. m. We. at New Orleans, are therefore
close to the path. lind 1t impossible to ascer.
tain as exactly as would wish, how close va
are to 1t; but, total obscuration requires amay.
nitsde of IL digits, and those authoritiee who
make the magnitude for this locality smallest
make IL 11.s digits. This, however. 10 sutac-
emit to hide the whole face of the cum excsDt a
slender thread of its rim three or four inchs.
long and having breath of only one-sixtisth
Of the sums apparent diameter OF less than one.
tenth IF an inch broad. Thus, although We NAV
not, if these authorities be correct, Gee thu
corona and protuberapoes in all their elorv
yet nothing but an extremely cloudy day can
deprive rs Of o most extraordinary and mar.
nifcent spectacle. Any great degree Of cloud.
ness will cause midnight darkness at the
maximum phase of the eclipse. The eclipse
begins at New Orleans ut ten minutes Of f,ur
O'Clock p. m. when the black disk of the moon
will commence to epcroaoh on the face Of the
sun. The grea' est observation will take place
at about ten minutes before five p. m. from
which time it will gradually di minish in mag
nitude until ten minutes before six p. m. when
the eclipse will end. At that moment the sun
will still be about an hour high in the western
heavens. The disk of the moon will pc 8, over
the face of the sun from west to east climbing
gradually upwards, little, as 1t progresses; go
that at the maximum phase (4:50 p. m if any
portion of the sun should be visible, that por-
ton will be. on the upper and western rim, Q
slender white bis zing thread of the dimensions
already described.
In order to see the eclipse properly every
body ought to get pair of smoked glasses. I
am informed that the opticians sell them for
Is cents pair. Those who do not wish to 60
to this comparatively insignificant expense
might try piece of the glass of o wine bottle.
The dark red and grayish green glass of these
bottles is not SO bad if it can be procured
thick enough. ALI glasses should be tested
beforebau This can be done by merely look
ing through them at the sun. When they pre-
vent fatigue of the eye without distorting the
appearance of the sun they are excellent.
The best place in the city from which to
view the eclipse is the levee on the south
western river front. That portion at the bend
RAINING south from the head of Lower Line
street towsrds the head of Napoleon avenue is
the very best. OF course an equally good or
better view can be had from the river. in that
vicinity, or from the opposite bank of the
river. At the end of the eclipse the sun will
not yet be low enough to be hidden by the
houses of the city.
It is to be remembered that the setting Of
the sun does not produce darkness. Even at
midnight, in the entire absence of the sun,
Egyptian darkness" does not prevail, for the
| stars give faint light. say this lest great
many persons should fall into the erEor that
the darkness, during daytime, constitutes the
principal charm of an eclipse. No. 1t is the
singular reddish-gra twilight traversed by
curously fringed waves, and the colored coro.
ma and flaming protuberancss proceeding from
the sun and more or less clearly Visible around
the dark edges Of the moon, together with the
extraordinary nature of the phenouena taken
| in connection with its ominous aspect, giving
an impression that cannot be resisted, that
constitute the principal attractions Of an
| eclipse. And the hope that something new,
| something hitherto unknowsble, concerning
this dis 5ant friend of ours, may be discovered,
adds in these days lively interest to phe.
nomenon which has always been considered
equally remarkable and impressive. c., JR.